HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 446        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christopher J. Worrell

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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 establishing eligibility requirements for the health safety net.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 446        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing eligibility requirements for the health safety net.

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 65 of chapter 118E is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following subsection:- 

(c) The office shall develop eligibility criteria for uninsured and underinsured residents pursuant to section (b) that shall be determined in accordance with, but not limited to, the following guidelines: 

(i) A resident whose income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, as calculated pursuant to the regulations of the executive office, shall be eligible, provided further, that residents whose income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level, but does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level may be subject to a deductible; and 

(ii) eligibility shall be retroactive to at least 180 days prior to receipt of an application for an eligible individual. 

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the office’s ability to establish patient eligibility at income levels higher than those specified herein and/or to provide greater retroactive coverage than required by this paragraph.

SECTION 2. The health safety net office, established under section 65 of chapter 118E, in consultation with the office of Medicaid shall establish a special task force to investigate and study the adequacy of the financing of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established under section 66 of chapter 118E, including but not limited to the  fund’s shortfall, the amounts paid to the fund by hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and surcharge payors established under sections 67 and 68 of chapter 118E,  reimbursements made from the fund to hospitals and community health centers established under section 69 of chapter 118E, and transfers to and from the fund. 

All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this legislation. The task force shall meet not later than 60 days after the effective date of this legislation. 

Not later than August 1, 2027, the task force shall report to the general court the result of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives who shall forward the same to the joint committee on healthcare financing and the joint committee on public health.