Massachusetts SD 1015: An Act to streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common applications

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1015 FILED ON: 2/9/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 761

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Sal N. DiDomenico
_________________
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 streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common
applications.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk
Carmine Lawrence Gentile 13th Middlesex 2/23/2021
Michael O. Moore Second Worcester 2/23/2021
Harriette L. Chandler First Worcester 2/25/2021
Joan B. Lovely Second Essex 2/25/2021
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 3/2/2021
Patrick M. O'Connor Plymouth and Norfolk 3/4/2021
John F. Keenan Norfolk and Plymouth 3/8/2021
Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester 3/8/2021
Brian M. Ashe 2nd Hampden 3/8/2021
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. 28th Middlesex 3/8/2021
Anne M. Gobi Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and
Middlesex
3/8/2021
Erika Uyterhoeven 27th Middlesex 3/8/2021
Michael D. Brady Second Plymouth and Bristol 3/12/2021
John J. Cronin Worcester and Middlesex 3/12/2021
Eric P. Lesser First Hampden and Hampshire 3/12/2021

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Hannah Kane 11th Worcester 3/12/2021
Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex 3/18/2021
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 17th Worcester 3/26/2021
Susannah M. Whipps 2nd Franklin 3/31/2021
Mary S. Keefe 15th Worcester 4/2/2021
Edward J. Kennedy First Middlesex 4/6/2021
Paul R. Feeney Bristol and Norfolk 4/12/2021
John H. Rogers 12th Norfolk 4/14/2021
Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 4/21/2021
Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and
Hampden
4/21/2021
Sonia Chang-Diaz Second Suffolk 7/7/2021
Diana DiZoglio First Essex 7/7/2021
Jack Patrick Lewis 7th Middlesex 7/7/2021
Julian Cyr Cape and Islands 7/8/2021
Nick Collins First Suffolk 7/8/2021
Brendan P. Crighton Third Essex 7/8/2021
Walter F. Timilty Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth 7/12/2021
Rebecca L. Rausch Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex 7/13/2021
Adam Gomez Hampden 7/15/2021

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1015 FILED ON: 2/9/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 761
By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 761) of Sal N. DiDomenico,
Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Michael O. Moore, Harriette L. Chandler and other members of the
General Court for legislation to improve public health through a common application for core
food, health and safety-net programs. Health Care Financing.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 678 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
_______________

An Act to streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common
applications.

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. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official
2 Edition, is hereby amended by adding after Section 77 the following section:-
3 Section 78 A. In order to improve access to federal nutrition assistance and reduce health
4 care costs due to lack of adequate nutrition, the Division of Medicaid shall offer both applicants
5 and recipients of MassHealth and Medicare Savings Program, also known as MassHealth Buy-
6 In, the option to both (a) initiate an application for federal supplemental nutrition assistance
7 program benefits at the time of application or renewal for medical assistance and (b) authorize
8 the division to submit said application to the department of transitional assistance. The option to

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9 apply for nutrition assistance shall be offered to applicants and recipients for medical assistance
10 whose reported gross income is below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level.
11 With the consent of said applicant or recipient, the division shall share relevant financial
12 and other eligibility information and supporting documentation that may be required to qualify
13 the applicant or recipient for supplemental nutrition assistance benefits. The department of
14 transitional assistance shall promptly inform said applicant of the eligibility requirements and
15 any additional verifications or obligations.
16 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after
17 Section 77 the following section:-
18 Section 78 B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive
19 office of health and human services and the executive office of communities and development
20 shall initiate development of a common application portal for individuals to simultaneously
21 apply for state-administered needs-based benefits and services in coordination with the division
22 of Medicaid, the department of tran