The bill amends Chapter 23-15 of the General Laws by introducing a new section that establishes a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for home care providers, home nursing care providers, and hospice providers until July 1, 2031. During this moratorium, the health services council shall not review or approve any new licenses, with exceptions made for emergency circumstances, changes in ownership, or compelling situations affecting quality of life in specific geographic areas or subpopulations. Any pending certificate of need applications at the time the bill takes effect will continue to be reviewed and will not be subject to the moratorium.

Additionally, the Department of Health is required to conduct a statewide utilization and capacity study during the moratorium period to assess the availability and access to home care services. This study may include an evaluation of current service availability, underserved geographic areas, and other pertinent factors affecting home care utilization. The findings will inform recommendations for addressing identified gaps in service provision, future demand projections, and issues related to duplicative or redundant services.

The bill establishes that the maximum number of licenses issued in each category will be based on the number in effect as of June 30, 2026. If there is a reduction of five percent or more in licenses within a calendar year, this new figure will become the maximum number of licenses for that category. Furthermore, if a home care provider, home nursing care provider, or hospice provider closes operations without a change of effective control, this closure will reduce the maximum number of licenses for that category by one.

All home care providers, home nursing care providers, and hospice providers are required to maintain a physical non-residential office location in accordance with the requirements set by the Department of State and the Department of Health. If any statute or regulation conflicts with the provisions of this section, the provisions of this section shall prevail. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.