Chapter 257

Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2008 reformed the way the Commonwealth pays for essential social services for its most vulnerable residents. The law established a more transparent, uniform, and evidence-based process for the establishment of rates “which are reasonable and adequate to meet the costs which are incurred by efficiently and economically operated social service program providers.” The Secretary of Health and Human Services has the sole responsibility for establishing rates of reimbursement after receiving public hearing testimony for each proposed rate.