A communication from the Department of Public Health (see Section 11 of Chapter 111K of the General Laws) submitting a report entitled: The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Annual Report Fiscal Year 2023

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

CICRF provided about $2.35 million in assistance to 142 families for non-covered medical and related services in FY2023.

Placed on file

Overview

HD 4583 is a proposed Massachusetts bill consisting of a communication from the Department of Public Health (DPH) submitting The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023. The report is mandated by M.G.L. Chapter 111K, Section 11 and is intended for the governor and the senate and house committees on ways and means. The bill has been placed on file (no substantive policy change enacted by this measures).

Introduced: April 28, 2025

Status: Placed on file

Enclosed document: The CICRF Annual Report FY2023 (DPH letter dated March 11, 2025)

What CICRF Is and What It Does

Purpose: The CICRF provides financial assistance for catastrophic medical and related expenses not covered by insurance, public benefits, or other sources for Massachusetts families with children 21 years and younger.

Eligibility framework (as described in the report): A family’s eligible medical and related expenses must exceed 10% of the first $100,000 of family income plus 15% of any income beyond that threshold.

FY2023 Key Data and Highlights

Financial assistance: CICRF provided nearly $2.35 million in reimbursements to families or to vendors on behalf of families.

Families served: 142 families received assistance.

Typical assistance: Median reimbursement per family was $7,613.

Demographics and income:

Approximately 66% of families had annual incomes under 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
About 37% of the children helped were under age five at the time of application.

Services funded: A broad range of non-covered services, including medical equipment, medical services, hospital and physician services, medications, family support, and home/vehicle modifications to improve living at home and in the community.

Additional supports: CICRF provides referrals and access to other resources, such as low-interest loan information for accessible vehicles via Easter Seals.

Program staffing and access: Five of six CICRF coordinators speak languages other than English (including Spanish and Haitian-Creole), aiding communication with families.

Fund balance at end of FY2023: $6,251,374.11.

Administrative Improvements and Next Steps

System modernization: The CICRF collaborated with a developer to customize and test a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to replace the outdated Access database.

Online application: A new electronic application was developed to reduce paper-based processes and streamline family access.

Implementation timeline: The CRM system and online application were planned for implementation in FY2024, accompanied by a reengineered workflow to shorten eligibility determination times and strengthen monitoring and performance controls.

Stakeholder engagement: The Commission notes ongoing willingness to receive input to improve service delivery.

Procedural and Legislative Context

Legislative mandate: The CICRF annual report is required under M.G.L. Chapter 111K, Section 11, to include program participation, expenditures per participant, illness types, family income/expenditures, and recommendations for law/regulation changes.

Audience: Governor and the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means.

Next steps: As a placed-on-file communication, the bill does not establish new policy but provides the FY2023 CICRF report and related updates to legislators and the public.

Bill