Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Citizens' Guide to State Services
Published by
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Citizen Information Service
Health: Hospitals and Health Facilities
H40 Bureau of Public Health Facilities
H41 Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification
H42 Advocacy Office/Complaint Unit
H43 Determination of Need Program
H40 Bureau of Public Health Facilities
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02108-4619
Tel: 617-624-6000
Fax: 617-624-6001
www.mass.gov/dph/hosp
This Bureau coordinates health services provided by the four Department of Public Health hospitals and provides administrative support services for these hospitals. The purpose of the hospitals is to serve patients whose problems, either because of financial constraints or special medical needs, are not adequately met by private hospitals. Services vary according to hospitals and include in-patient and out-patient care for adults and children, shelter for the homeless, rehabilitation of alcoholics, chronic disease rehabilitation, respite care, and programs for physically handicapped children.
Regional Offices:
Massachusetts Hospital
School
Three Randolph Street
Canton, MA 02021
Tel: 781-828-2440
Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
170 Morton Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Tel: 617-522-8110
Tewksbury Hospital
365 East Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876-1998
Tel: 978-851-7321, ext. 2241
Western Massachusetts
Hospital
91 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Tel: 413-562-4131
Fax: 413-562-7338
www.mass.gov/dph/hosp
H41 Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification
Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
Department of Public Health
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: 617-753-8000
Nurses Aide Registry:617-753-8144
www.mass.gov/dph/dhcflc
This division will accept complaints made against any licensed hospital, school infirmary, hospital blood bank, laboratory, clinic, or birthing center, which is not meeting established standards. In addition, the division investigates complaints against health care facilities such as: Adult Day Care Programs, Ambulance Services, Ambulatory Surgical Clinics, Home Health Agencies, Hospice Care Hospitals, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Licensure and Medicare/Medicaid Certification, Long-Term Care Facilities, Mammography Facilities, and Outpatient Physical Therapy/Speech Pathology Services. The division also maintains a Nurse Aide Registry, which oversees training and competency evaluation programs, under federal statutes.
H42 Advocacy Office / Complaint Unit
Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
Department of Public Health
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
24/7 Tel: 617-753-8150
24/7 Toll Free: 1-800-462-5540
www.mass.gov/dph
Discrimination based on diagnostically-related group (DRG) classification of Medicare beneficiaries or any other criteria by acute care hospitals is prohibited by MGL Ch. 111: 51D. Discriminatory restrictions include those relating to admission, availability of services, treatment, transfer, or discharge of any patient because that person is a Medicare beneficiary. Medicare patients, if dissatisfied with their acute hospital discharge plans, may request the Advocacy Office to review the discharge plan; patients may not be discharged or incur liability for their continued hospital stay until the patient agrees with the plan or until the office has given its approval. It investigates complaints against health care facilities and provides the mechanism by which criminal action may be taken by the Attorney General. The division, in conjunction with the Attorney General's Office, also investigates all complaints of patient abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities.
H43 Determination of Need Program
Division of Health Care Facility Liensure and Certification
Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
Department of Public Health
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: 617-753-7340
www.mass.gov/dph/dhcq
Massachusetts law requires that any person or governmental agency planning to make a substantial capital expenditure for construction of a health care facility, or for a substantial change in the services of any facility, must obtain a Certificate of Need from the Public Health Council. The staff of the Determination of Need Program evaluates proposals for certificates of need and makes recommendations to the Public Health Council. Input is received from taxpayer groups, health system agencies, and other governmental agencies before approval and issuance of the Request for Proposal.
