Amendment #622 to H3400

EOHHS Eligibility

Ms. Balser of Newton moves to amend the bill by striking out section 5 and inserting in place thereof the following section:

SECTION 5.  Section 16 of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 5 of chapter 224 of the acts of 2012, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The executive office of health and human services shall establish and maintain a computerized integrated eligibility system, in compliance with chapter 66A; provided that the information is provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements, and other program –specific requirements, to verify income, assets, and identity when a program requires such verification in determining an applicant’s eligibility for assistance for new applicants and during eligibility redeterminations and reviews, in order to eliminate the duplication of assistance, deter fraud, simplify application procedures, and facilitate the ability of eligible individuals to obtain assistance without delay within each public benefits program administered by the office. The office may enter into contracts with third-party vendors for the purposes of developing and maintaining the integrated eligibility system, provided that such contracts shall not reward vendors for preventing eligible individuals from obtaining assistance.