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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1814 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 855 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Sal N. DiDomenico |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act ensuring equitable health coverage for children. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1814 FILED ON: 1/16/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 855 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 855) of Sal N. DiDomenico |
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| 19 | 19 | | for legislation to ensure equitable health coverage for children. Health Care Financing. |
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| 20 | 20 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
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| 21 | 21 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 740 OF 2023-2024.] |
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| 22 | 22 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 23 | 23 | | _______________ |
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| 24 | 24 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 26 | 26 | | _______________ |
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| 27 | 27 | | An Act ensuring equitable health coverage for children. |
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| 28 | 28 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 29 | 29 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 30 | 30 | | 1 Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby |
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| 31 | 31 | | 2amended by adding after Section 16D the following section:- |
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| 32 | 32 | | 3 "Section 16E. (1) Notwithstanding any other law, there is hereby established a program |
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| 33 | 33 | | 4of comprehensive health coverage for children and young adults under the age of 21 who are |
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| 34 | 34 | | 5residents of the Commonwealth, as defined under section 8 of this chapter, who are not |
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| 35 | 35 | | 6otherwise eligible for comprehensive benefits under Title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act |
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| 36 | 36 | | 7or under the demonstration pursuant to Section 9A of this chapter solely due to their immigration |
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| 37 | 37 | | 8status. Children and young adults shall be eligible to receive comprehensive MassHealth benefits |
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| 38 | 38 | | 9equivalent to the benefits available to individuals of like age and income under categorical and 2 of 2 |
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| 39 | 39 | | 10financial eligibility requirements established by the executive office pursuant to said Title XIX |
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| 40 | 40 | | 11and Title XXI. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 12 (2) The executive office of health and human services shall maximize federal financial |
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| 42 | 42 | | 13participation for the benefits provided under this section, however, benefits under this section |
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| 43 | 43 | | 14shall not be conditioned on the availability of federal financial participation." |
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