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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3499 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1382
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John J. Lawn, Jr.
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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 promote continuity of health coverage for children.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:John J. Lawn, Jr.10th Middlesex1/17/2025Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/31/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3499 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1382
By Representative Lawn of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1382) of
John J. Lawn, Jr. and Sean Garballey for legislation to promote continuity of health coverage for
children eligible for MassHealth. Health Care Financing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1214 OF 2023-2024.]
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 promote continuity of health coverage for children.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
3 (17)(a) Residents of the commonwealth under age 19 who are enrolled in MassHealth
4shall qualify for at least 12 months of continuous eligibility.
5 (b) Continuous eligibility established under clause (a) shall not apply in the following
6circumstances: (i) the child turns 19, except when MassHealth provides continuous eligibility to
7residents over age 19; (ii) the child ceases to be a state resident; (iii) the child or the child’s
8representative requests voluntary disenrollment; (iv) eligibility is determined to have been 2 of 2
9erroneously granted because of agency error or fraud, abuse, or perjury attributed to the child or
10the child’s representative; or (v) the child is deceased.
11 (c) The executive office of health and human services shall maximize federal financial
12participation for the coverage and benefits under this subsection; provided, however, that
13coverage and benefits provided under this subsection shall not only be contingent upon the
14availability of federal financial participation.