130 CMR 458.402
Definitions
The following terms used in 130 CMR 458.000 have the meanings given in 130 CMR
458.402 unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
Acute Care Hospital. A facility that (i) is licensed as a hospital by the Massachusetts Department
of Public Health (DPH) under M.G.L. c. 111, §51 (if in-state) or by the governing or licensing
agency in its state (if out-of-state); (ii) is Medicare-certified and participates in the Medicare
program; (iii) participates in the Medicaid program; (iv) has more than 50% of its beds licensed
as medical/surgical, intensive care, coronary care, burn, pediatric (Level I or Level II), pediatric
intensive care (Level III), maternal (obstetrics), or neonatal intensive care beds (Level III) as
determined by DPH (or if out-of-state, the governing or licensing agency in its state, and as
determined by MassHealth); and (v) utilizes more than 50% of its beds exclusively as either
medical / surgical, intensive care, coronary care, burn, pediatric (Level I or Level II), pediatric
intensive care (Level III), maternal (obstetrics), or neonatal intensive care beds (Level III), as
determined by MassHealth. An acute hospital is not a chronic disease and rehabilitation hospital
or a hospital licensed primarily to provide mental health services, or any unit of a facility that is
licensed as a nursing facility, chronic disease unit, or rehabilitation unit.
Adverse Incident. An occurrence that represents actual or potential serious harm to the well-
being of a member or to others under the care of the medical respite provider. Adverse incidents
may result from the actions of a member served, actions of a staff member rendering services, or
incidents that compromise the health and safety of the member, or operations of the provider.
Behavioral Health Disorder. Any disorder pertaining to mental health or substance use as defined
by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals (CSP-HI). A specialized community
support program service, operated in accordance with 130 CMR 461.000: Community Support
Program Services, to address the health-related social needs of MassHealth members who (1) are
experiencing homelessness and are frequent users of acute health MassHealth services, as defined
by MassHealth; or (2) are experiencing chronic homelessness, as defined by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development.
Homelessness. A condition of any person who 1) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence, and who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not
designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings including
a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping group; 2) is living in a
supervised publicly or privately operated emergency shelter designated to provide temporary
living arrangements, including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels
paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, or local government programs for low-
income individuals; or 3) is exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less and
who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before
entering that institution.
Homeless Medical Respite or Medical Respite. Post-hospital or pre-procedure services delivered
by a medical respite provider in accordance with 130 CMR 458.410(B) and (C) respectively to
eligible MassHealth members as set forth in 130 CMR 458.403.
Homeless Medical Respite Provider or Medical Respite Provider. An entity that meets all
conditions of participation of the MassHealth Medical Respite program described in 130 CMR
458.404 is enrolled as a provider in the MassHealth Medical Respite program.
Low-barrier Access. An approach that eliminates as many preconditions to medical respite
program entry as possible and responds to the needs and concerns of individuals seeking
assistance.
Low-demand Setting. A residential setting that relies on harm reduction practices to serve hard-
to-reach and hard-to-engage individuals experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness
and/or substance use disorder that does not require sobriety or compliance with treatment for
admission or continued stay.
Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA). A short-term absence from a medical respite provider
service location, during which a member does not receive medical respite services because the
member is temporarily admitted to a hospital, nursing facility, or other medical setting. Absences
may be planned or unplanned.
Medical Respite Service Period. Up to 183 days, whether consecutive or non-consecutive, that a
member can receive medical respite, including post-hospital medical respite, pre-procedure
medical respite, and medical and nonmedical leave of absence days, during a 12-month period
starting with a member’s first day of admission at a homeless medical respite provider service
location. A new medical respite service period can begin following the completion of the 12-
month period if the member meets clinical eligibility requirements.
Memorandum of Understanding. An agreement that defines the intention of parties to work
together and outlines the roles and responsibilities of each party.
Mental Health Disorder. Any disorder pertaining to mental health as defined by the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Non-congregate Room. A private room or semi-private room.
Nonmedical Leave of Absence (NMLOA). A short-term absence from a medical respite provider
service location, during which a member does not receive medical respite services for nonmedical
reasons. Absences may be planned or unplanned.
Post-hospital Medical Respite. Services delivered by a medical respite provider in accordance
with 130 CMR 458.410(B) for a member who: is currently experiencing homelessness; has a
primary acute medical issue that is not yet resolved but no longer requires or does not require a
hospital level of care and does not meet a skilled nursing facility level of care; and is being
discharged from a hospital after an inpatient stay or leaving from an emergency department visit.
Pre-procedure Medical Respite. Services delivered by a medical respite provider, in accordance
with 130 CMR 458.410(C) for members currently experiencing homelessness, who do not have
consistent access to a private bathroom and have a colonoscopy procedure scheduled that a
medical professional has indicated as needing preparation. Each pre-procedure medical respite
stay is limited to two full consecutive calendar days.
Private Room. A non-congregate room with a bed for a single person that is not shared with
more than one person at a time.
Progressive Engagement. A services approach to addressing a member’s homelessness that is
based on tailoring assistance to each member’s needs and assessing what works best for them,
with their specific strengths, and in their specific situation. This services approach offers
members support to address their immediate housing needs first, with ability to scale assistance
up or down dependent on the member’s needs for services to address their homelessness.
Release of Information. A document through which a member establishes parameters for whether
and how they authorize their personal health information to be shared (including specifying what
information may be shared, with whom and for what timeframes) and which specifies under what
statutes, guidelines, or other authorities such information may be released.
Safe Haven. Safe, low-demand settings for people with mental health or substance use disorders
utilizing non-traditional, non-threatening methods of progressive engagement and are an
alternative model to shelter for people experiencing homelessness. There are no treatment
demands or requirements placed on safe haven residents. However, expectations for residents
include eventual transition to stable housing and engagement or re-engagement with services.
Semi-private Room. A non-congregate room with up to four beds to allow up to four people at a
time to share the room, with at least a physical barrier (e.g., a curtain) in place to designate each
person’s space.
Substance Use Disorder. Any disorder pertaining to substance use as defined by the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.