An Act promoting continuity of health coverage for children, the official text

	Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws shall be amended by adding the following section:- 
	Section 17. (a) Residents of the commonwealth under age 19 who are enrolled in MassHealth shall qualify for at least 12 months of continuous eligibility. 
	(b) Continuous eligibility established under subsection (a) shall not apply in the following circumstances: (i) the child turns 19, except when MassHealth provides continuous eligibility to residents over age 19; (ii) the child ceases to be a state resident; (iii) the child or the child’s representative requests voluntary disenrollment; 
	(iv) eligibility is determined to have been erroneously granted because of agency error or 
	fraud, abuse, or perjury attributed to the child or the child’s representative; or (v) the child is deceased. 
	(c) The executive office of health and human services shall maximize federal financial participation for the coverage and benefits under this section; provided, however, that coverage and benefits provided under this section shall not only be contingent upon the availability of federal financial participation.