The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws, specifically adding a new section to codify the Katie Beckett program in accordance with federal guidelines. The Katie Beckett program is a Medicaid eligibility category that allows children under the age of nineteen with long-term disabilities or complex medical needs to receive Medicaid coverage, enabling them to be cared for at home rather than in an institution.

The bill includes several insertions: It stipulates that children eligible for the Katie Beckett program must be reassessed for clinical eligibility annually unless a licensed physician determines that their clinical and/or functional limitations are unlikely to change, in which case the annual clinical evaluation can be waived. Additionally, Katie Beckett participants may request up to a 10% increase in service hours per week, provided the total cost does not exceed the estimated cost of institutional care. The bill also authorizes the office of health and human services to seek any necessary waivers or state plan amendments from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The act would become effective immediately upon passage.