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H 1415

An Act to protect qualified medicare beneficiaries from improper billing

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Connolly and 6 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill strengthens protections against improper billing for low-income Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicaid cost-sharing programs.

Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · H 1415

Legislative bill overview

H 1415 aims to protect Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs) in Massachusetts from improper billing practices by healthcare providers. The bill establishes protections and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that QMBs—low-income Medicare beneficiaries whose premiums and cost-sharing are covered by Medicaid—are not overcharged or billed improperly by medical providers.

Why is this important

QMBs represent a vulnerable population with limited financial resources, and improper billing can create serious barriers to necessary healthcare access. Protecting this group from billing violations helps prevent medical debt, ensures compliance with federal Medicare/Medicaid rules, and reduces the administrative burden on beneficiaries who may lack resources to dispute incorrect charges.

Potential points of contention

  • Provider compliance costs: Healthcare providers may argue that additional billing protections and enforcement create administrative burdens and compliance expenses that could affect service delivery or costs
  • Scope and enforceability: Stakeholders may disagree on whether the bill's protections are comprehensive enough, which enforcement agency should handle violations, and what penalties should apply
  • Definition clarity: Disagreement could arise over what constitutes "improper billing" in specific medical scenarios and whether the bill adequately defines actionable violations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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