The bill introduces a new chapter, CHAPTER 8.16, titled "Medicare Savings Programs," within Title 40 of the General Laws concerning Human Services, aimed at enhancing the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) for eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities. It seeks to address the inadequacy of the federally mandated minimum eligibility criteria by increasing the income and resource limits for the MSP, allowing states to set higher thresholds while maintaining federal cost-sharing. The bill defines key terms related to the program, such as "qualified individual," "qualified Medicare beneficiary," and "qualified disabled and working individual." It also mandates state enrollment of qualified individuals in Medicare Part B, covering their premiums, and specifies that payments will be federally funded up to the federal allotment.

Furthermore, the bill raises the income limit for the qualified Medicare beneficiary program from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty line and establishes a new income limit for the qualified individual program, set between 138% and 186% of the federal poverty line, with no asset limit for eligibility. It requires the secretary to utilize data from the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program to initiate applications for Medicare beneficiaries and maintain a simplified application form for those not covered by LIS data. The bill also mandates publicizing the availability of these programs and submitting necessary amendments to the Medicaid state plan or the 1115 waiver to implement these changes, along with establishing rules and regulations for compliance with state and federal laws.