The Massachusetts Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force was established to tackle the challenges associated with patient discharges from acute care hospitals to post-acute care settings. The Task Force, chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, is tasked with identifying systemic barriers that lead to delays in patient transitions, such as issues in hospital discharge planning, payer administrative hurdles, and the adequacy of post-acute care capacity. The Task Force has conducted nine meetings and is required to submit its recommendations by July 31, 2025, focusing on improving hospital throughput and care transitions, particularly for patients with complex needs.

The bill also proposes several measures to enhance the transition process from acute to post-acute care, including establishing a default surrogate decision-making hierarchy for patients without a health care proxy, streamlining the execution of health care proxies, and promoting technology for remote witnessing of proxy documents. It aims to standardize discharge referral packets, develop a real-time post-acute care system, and expedite discharge pathways for hospice patients. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need for improved coordination among healthcare providers, enhanced public awareness of health care proxies, and the exploration of alternative transportation options for patients, particularly in behavioral health crises. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline processes, reduce delays, and improve patient outcomes across the healthcare continuum.