An Act relative to emergency medical transportation provided to veterans

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Todd Smola and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts DVS must consider full reimbursement of emergency medical transport for veterans with 100% disability to local or VA hospitals, with proof of status and timely review.

Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

Overview

Bill Number: H.3884

Title: An Act relative to emergency medical transportation provided to veterans

Purpose: To provide, or at least make eligible for consideration, full reimbursement of emergency medical transportation expenses for U.S. veterans who hold a 100% disability rating, when the transportation is to a local hospital or a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Primary sponsor: Representative Todd M. Smola (and Steven G. Xiarhos)

Committee: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs; Senate concurrence indicated

Status: Hearing scheduled on July 22, 2025 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) in hearing room A-2

What the bill does (Key Provisions)

Adds new Section 5B to Chapter 115 of the General Laws (inserted after Section 5A).

Section 5B(a): The Department of Veterans Services (DVS) shall consider full reimbursement of emergency medical transportation expenses incurred by a veteran who has a 100% disability rating. Eligible transports are to local hospitals or Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Documentation requirement: The veteran must provide proof of disability. The bill requires the veteran to supply this proof within a reasonable amount of time, with the timeline to be adjusted to the veteran’s medical condition.

Eligibility and Documentation

Eligibility: Veterans with a 100% disability rating (as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs).

Documentation: Veterans must submit proof of their 100% disability rating to trigger consideration of reimbursement. The timeframe for submission is described as “within a reasonable amount of time, considering the medical condition of the veteran.”

Administration and Implementation

Administering body: Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services (DVS).

Implementation nuances: The bill directs DVS to “consider” full reimbursement. The text does not specify a guaranteed payment amount or an explicit funding mechanism within the statute, nor does it establish a defined odyssey for the review process beyond the “reasonable time” clause for providing proof.

Relationship to existing law: Amends Chapter 115 of the General Laws by adding Section 5B.

Legislative Timeline and Context

Referred to committee: February 27, 2025 (House committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs); Senate concurrence noted in the bill’s history.

Hearing: Scheduled for July 22, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Room A-2).

Related actions: The bill is listed as House Docket No. 3884; HD 2509 is noted as related/replacing in the record.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

For veterans: If implemented as intended, veterans with a 100% disability rating could have emergency medical transportation costs receiving full reimbursement consideration, potentially reducing out-of-pocket expenses for urgent transport to hospitals.

For the Department: Creates a programmatic obligation to consider reimbursing such costs; may necessitate administrative processes, guidance, or potential funding to fulfill reimbursements, depending on the eventual statutory and budgetary outcomes.

Next steps: If the committee reports favorably, the bill would move through the legislative process toward final passage and potential appropriation decisions.

Note: The bill language uses “shall consider the full reimbursement,” which suggests a reimbursement option but does not guarantee automatic payment without further implementing rules or funding.

Bill