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S 2494

Relates to actions involving public petition and participation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Gounardes and 1 co-sponsor

Adds dental insurance to Massachusetts Chapter 115 veteran benefits, broadening coverage and reducing costs, subject to regulatory rules.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 2494

Summary — S.2494 (2025): An Act relative to dental benefits for veterans

Status: Referred to Judiciary (most recent status); passed Senate 04/09/2025 and delivered to the House.
Filed: Docket shows filed 01/14/2025; presented 01/22/2025. (See “Legislative actions” below for timeline.)

Purpose

To clarify and expand the scope of the dental assistance benefit available under Chapter 115 of the Massachusetts General Laws for veterans by explicitly including coverage for dental insurance in addition to other dental-related costs the Secretary may determine.

Key provision(s)

  • Amends Section 2 of Chapter 115 (as amended by section 72 of Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024).
  • Replaces an existing sentence describing the dental assistance benefit with the following (paraphrased):
    • The dental assistance benefit shall include coverage for the cost of necessary medical visits, procedures, prescriptions, dental insurance, and other such treatments as the Secretary shall determine through regulations.
    • Retains the Secretary’s authority to adopt regulations or other measures “to keep the program efficient and economical.”

In short: the bill inserts “dental insurance” into the enumerated items the dental assistance benefit may cover and leaves regulatory authority and cost-control language intact.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Veterans who are eligible for benefits under Chapter 115 (Massachusetts’ means-tested veterans’ assistance program). Inclusion of “dental insurance” could broaden the types of dental costs the program will cover for eligible veterans.
  • Implementing agencies: The Executive office/Secretary responsible for Chapter 115 benefits (e.g., Department of Veterans’ Services or the designated administering authority) — will need to interpret and implement the expanded coverage by regulation.
  • Fiscal: Potentially the Commonwealth’s budget and appropriations if expanded coverage increases program expenditures (no specific funding or appropriation language is included in the bill).

Impact and considerations

  • Access: Explicit inclusion of dental insurance may increase veterans’ access to preventive and restorative dental care and reduce out-of-pocket costs for those enrolled.
  • Cost: The bill’s language does not appropriate funds or specify eligibility changes; actual cost implications depend on regulatory implementation and any subsequent appropriations or program design decisions (e.g., whether the program will purchase insurance, subsidize premiums, or reimburse for private plans).
  • Administrative: The Secretary retains regulatory flexibility to define covered treatments and control program efficiency. Regulations will determine operational details (who qualifies, what plans or services qualify, reimbursement mechanisms, etc.).

Procedural timeline (selected entries from docket)

  • Filed: 01/14/2025 (Senate Docket No. 619); presented 01/22/2025.
  • Referred to Codes: 01/21/2025.
  • Referred to Veterans and Federal Affairs: 02/27/2025.
  • Passed Senate: 04/09/2025; delivered to Assembly and referred to Judiciary: 04/09/2025.
  • Hearings scheduled/rescheduled for 06/24/2025.
  • Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance: 07/29/2025. (There are duplicate/multiple docket entries reflecting routine procedural steps.)

Sponsors / Related bills

  • Docket presenters/sponsors: Senator Michael F. Rush; petition also lists Representative Paul McMurtry.
  • Related/companion bills listed in the docket: SD 619 (replaces), prior-session S.4493 and S.9293, and companion A.1196.

Note: Some sponsor names included in the provided metadata (e.g., Jerry Moran, Jacky Rosen, others) do not match the Massachusetts docket entries and appear inconsistent with this state bill record; primary sponsors per the Commonwealth docket are Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry.

If you’d like, I can:
- Draft a short explainer of likely budgetary impacts and what to watch for in the Secretary’s implementing regulations, or
- Compare this amendment to the existing Chapter 115 dental benefit language (showing original vs. proposed text).

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

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