SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2378        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 738

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joseph A. Boncore

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act protecting pregnant and postpartum patients.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2378        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 738

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act protecting pregnant and postpartum patients.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 10 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

The division shall, to the extent permitted by Title XIX or other federal authority, provide medical assistance to pregnant patients who are presumptively eligible for the services to be covered in conformity with appropriate standards of care not less than 12-months postpartum from the date of birth or adjusted date of birth in the case of a premature birth. The division shall promulgate regulations to implement this section, which shall require health care providers to notify such pregnant patients of the need to file an application for Medicaid and which shall set standards to be used by providers in determining presumptive eligibility.

SECTION 2. Section 10E of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following new paragraph:-

The division shall establish a program of medical care and assistance for pregnant women and infants who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under chapter 118E and who lack private health insurance coverage or have health insurance coverage which does not cover all medically necessary care covered by the program established by this section. The division shall furnish such medical assistance to each such pregnant patient and infant residing in the commonwealth in accordance with standards of eligibility established by the division for not less than 12-months postpartum from the date of birth or adjusted date of birth in the case of a premature birth; provided, however, that the income eligibility standards shall not be more than 200 per cent of the non-farm income poverty guidelines defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget.