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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 852
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
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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 preventing medical debt by restoring health safety net eligibility levels.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 852
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 852) of Sal N. DiDomenico
for legislation to prevent medical debt by restoring health safety net eligibility levels. Health
Care Financing.
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 preventing medical debt by restoring health safety net eligibility levels.
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 1. Section 65 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following words in subsection (b)(iii) after
3the words “determine the eligibility of uninsured and underinsured patients for reimbursable
4health services”:-
5 , pursuant to subsection (c) of this section,
6 SECTION 2. Section 65 of chapter 118E, as so appearing in the General Laws, is hereby
7amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following subsection:-
8 (c) The office shall develop eligibility criteria for uninsured or underinsured patients in
9accordance with, but not limited to, the following guidelines: 2 of 3
10 (i) Uninsured or underinsured patients, who meet all other eligibility criteria as
11determined by the office, up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, as calculated pursuant to
12the regulations of the executive office, shall be eligible;
13 (ii) eligible patients whose income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level, but
14does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level, may be subject to a deductible; and
15 (iii) eligibility shall be retroactive to at least 180 days prior to receipt of an application for
16an eligible individual.
17 Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the office’s ability to establish
18patient eligibility at income levels higher than those specified herein and/or to provide greater
19retroactive coverage than required by this paragraph.
20 SECTION 3. The health safety net office, established under section 65 of chapter 118E,
21in consultation with the office of Medicaid, shall convene a task force composed of experts that
22shall include, but is not limited to, a consumer advocate representative, a hospital representative,
23a community health center representative, and a health insurance plan representative to
24investigate and study the adequacy of the financing of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund
25established under section 66 of chapter 118E, including but not limited to the fund’s shortfall, the
26amounts paid to the fund by hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and surcharge payors
27established under sections 67 and 68 of chapter 118E, reimbursements made from the fund to
28hospitals and community health centers established under section 69 of chapter 118E, and
29transfers to and from the fund. 3 of 3
30 All appointments shall be made not later than 30 days after the effective date of this
31legislation. The task force shall meet not later than 60 days after the effective date of this
32legislation.
33 Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this legislation, the task force shall report
34to the general court the result of its investigation and study and its recommendations.