massachusetts patient care report

How to report patient abuse and neglect in a hospital?

Health Care Facility Reporting Report suspected abuse, neglect, mistreatment and misappropriation of patient or resident property. Here, you can find instructions and fax forms for reporting all incidents under the Patient Abuse Law. Generally, you must file facility reports using the Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS).

What are the medical records policies for Massachusetts physicians?

Policies for Massachusetts physicians and handling of patient medical records. Physician Obligations with respect to Patient Medical Records Patient Access to Medical Records A patient is entitled to inspect or receive a copy of his or her medical record, not the original.

How do I file a complaint against a nursing home in Massachusetts?

How to file File a complaint regarding a nursing home or other health care facility. Print and and complete the Consumer/Resident/Patient Complaint Form. Fax completed form to (617) 753-8165.

How much does it cost to get medical records in Massachusetts?

The fee may not include the cost associated with searching for and retrieving the records. Massachusetts law allows physicians not covered by HIPAA to charge a base fee of $15.00 for each request, as well as a copying charge of $0.50 per page for the first 100 pages, and $0.25 per page in excess of 100.

What is MassHealth's quality strategy?

​​​​​​ The Executive Office of Health and Human Services developed a comprehensive quality strategy that reflects MassHealth’s framework for agency-wide quality activities, in addition to maintain ing adherence to the regulatory managed care requirements . The document was posted for public comment in October 2018. Following the public comment period, MassHealth updated the strategy and submitted it to CMS for review. This strategy should be considered an operational draft until EOHHS receives final approval from CMS.

What is the CMS Adult and Child Core Set?

CMS publishes through an annual review and selection process (PDF, 110.85 KB), sets of core measures showing the quality of care and health outcomes for adults participating in Medicaid, and children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for all reporting states including Massachusetts.

Guidelines for Collection, Analysis and Reporting of Performance Data

In an effort to assess the strength of PCA systems at your facility, the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) Division sometimes asks for de-identified information about the individual credentialed health care providers involved in events reported in Safety and Quality Reviews.

Patient Care Assessment Plan for Hospitals

The below document summarizes the provisions that must be a hospital's PCA plan, as specified in the Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) regulations, set forth at Chapter 243 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, sections 3.01-3.14

Semi Annual Reports, Annual Reports & Reporting Schedule

The PCA Semi-Annual Report is essentially a progress report on quality assurance data and activities. It is required by the PCA regulations at 243 CMR 3.07 (3) (g). It is prepared for the health care facility's governing body with a copy submitted to the Quality and Patient Safety Division (QPSD).

Who can request a copy of a patient's medical records?

The records can be requested by a patient, the patient’s parent (if a minor) or legal guardian, or, with patient authorization, by another physician or any person authorized by the patient. Health care providers must provide patients, upon request, with an opportunity to inspect their records, receive a copy of their records, ...

How long does a physician have to provide a copy of a medical record?

Under HIPAA a physician has 30 days to provide the patient or the patient’s representative with a copy of the requested medical records; however, if the medical records are not maintained or are not accessible on-site, then a physician has 60 days to provide the records.

How long do you have to keep medical records for a minor?

If a patient is a minor on the date of the last visit, then the physician must maintain the pediatric patient’s records for a minimum period of either seven years from the date of the last patient encounter or until the patient reaches the age of eighteen, whichever is the longer retention period.

Why do doctors need to keep the original medical record?

Patients often assume that the original record belongs to them since the information in the medical record is about them; however, the Board requires that a physician maintain the original to ensure that a patient’s medical history will be available to assist any future health care provider.

Do psychotherapists have to provide a medical record?

However, if, in the physician’s reasonable judgment, providing the entire medical record would adversely affect the patient’s well-being, the provider may provide a summary of the record. If the patient continues to request the entire record, the physician may make it available to either the patient’s attorney, with the patient’s consent, or to another psychotherapist, as designated by the patient. G.L. c. 112, § 12CC and 243 CMR 2.07 (13) (e).

Does HIPAA require a fee for copying?

Permissible Rates for Copying Records. Under HIPAA a physician may only charge a “ reasonable, cost-based fee,” which can only include the cost of copying (including supplies for and labor of copying) and postage, if the records are mailed.

Federal laws

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PL 111-148. The federal Health Care law is over 900 pages long.

Federal regulations

45 CFR Part 88 Protecting statutory conscience rights in health care Allows health workers to refuse to perform or assist medical procedures, like abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide, if it violates their “conscience” or religion. It applies to health care institutions receiving federal funding.

Selected case law

Zaleskas v. Brigham and Women's Hospital, 97 Mass. App. Ct. 55 (2020) "if a patient unambiguously withdraws consent after medical treatment has begun, and if it is medically feasible to discontinue treatment, continued treatment following such a withdrawal may give rise to a medical battery claim."

Web sources

Comfort care/do not resuscitate order verification program, Mass. Dept. of Public Health. Explains documentation required so that EMTs will honor a DNR, and protocols for EMTs.

Print sources

Health care law: a practical guide, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf Overview -- The Affordable Care Act -- Health care provider transactions -- Physician practice and other health care transactions -- Tax exempt health care providers and related tax issues -- The Medicare-Medicaid fraud and abuse statute, the Start Act and the False Claims Act -- Health care joint ventures -- Reimbursement : medicare and medicaid -- Health care facility licensing -- Antitrust and health care entities -- Organizing providers for managed care -- Physician compensation -- Overview of the issues related to medical malpractice -- The law of medical malpractice -- Risk management programs -- Responses to the malpractice dilemma -- The medical staff -- Licensure of health care professionals -- Health care employment and labor issues -- Consent to medical treatment..

Performance Measures

Allows patients to track a particular hospital's efforts to meet the measure standards, and allows them to see how the hospital compares to "peer" hospitals of the same size

Staffing Plans & Reports

Please note: MHA and our member hospitals are committed to delivering the most reliable, transparent data on staffing. Due to the extreme and unprecedented challenges that hospitals are facing through the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not possible to accurately capture staffing data representative of 2020 and 2021.

Massachusetts Project Managers Participant Login

The participating hospital's assigned Project Managers will receive an email from Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association alerting them that the next data collection cycle is open, along with the deadline for submission and the link to the PCL site to log in and enter data.

What form do you need to sign for a surrogate?

If you are not the person receiving medical care, their legal surrogate, or have their permission to receive their personal medical information, you will need to have the patient/resident or their legal surrogate sign a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form.

Do you have to file a complaint with a nursing home?

Although it is not required that you file a complaint directly with the facility, you are encouraged to raise any concerns with the management of the facility or, for nursing homes, the Long-term Care Ombudsman. Most often, the facility will be able to begin addressing your concerns immediately and give you information about ...