The Massachusetts Transitions from Acute Care to Post-Acute Care (TACPAC) Task Force has been established to address 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, will investigate systemic barriers that contribute to delays in patient transitions, such as hospital discharge planning, payer administrative issues, and the adequacy of post-acute care capacity. The Task Force is required to submit its recommendations by July 31, 2025, after conducting nine meetings from January to July 2025.

The bill aims to enhance the efficiency of patient transitions by implementing key recommendations from the Task Force, including establishing a default surrogate decision-maker hierarchy for patients without a Health Care Proxy, streamlining the execution of health care proxies, and expanding public guardian programs. It emphasizes the importance of early discharge planning, coordination among healthcare providers, and the development of a real-time post-acute care system to improve communication and reduce delays. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for monitoring prior authorization requirements and exploring enhanced hospital case management services, ultimately aiming to reduce discharge delays and improve patient care continuity. Key insertions in the bill include the establishment of the task force and the exploration of alternative transportation models for patients in behavioral health crises.