SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1920        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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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 to protect qualified medicare beneficiaries from improper billing.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1920        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  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 to protect qualified medicare beneficiaries from improper billing.

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. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section after section 25A:-

Section 25B. (a) All Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and MassHealth providers and suppliers must not bill Medicare beneficiaries in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, also known as QMB, eligibility group for Medicare Part A or Part B cost-sharing pursuant to federal and state law.

(b) Providers who unlawfully bill Medicare beneficiaries in the QMB eligibility group for Medicare cost-sharing including deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance shall be subject to sanctions pursuant to regulations promulgated by the division within 90 days of this section taking effect. Such sanctions may include but are not limited to monetary fines and shall take account of mitigating circumstances such as clerical errors and good faith mistakes.