House passes MassHealth Equality Bill

In a victory for married same-sex couples seeking equal access to the state's MassHealth Program, the House of Representatives passed the MassHealth Equality Bill, sponsored by openly gay state Rep. Liz Malia, on a voice vote early this afternoon.

"It did pass on a voice vote during an informal part of the session," said Bill Conley, a lobbyist for the Mass. Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.

The bill will now go to the state Senate for consideration; Conley said it is entirely up to Senate President Therese Murray as to when or if the bill would be voted on. Nonetheless, said Conley, "It is really exciting to get it through the House and on its way to the Senate."

Malia filed the MassHealth Equality Bill, H.B. 4107, to remedy the fact that because MassHealth relies on federal as well as state funding, same-sex married couples, whose marriages are not recognized at the federal level, are not treated as spouses under the program, which can pose serious financial hardships for couples should one partner require long-term nursing home care, among other issues. If signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick, it would require MassHealth to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples and have the state pick up the cost of services for those couples that are denied by the federal government.

In related news, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill to repeal the 1913 law today; advocates have expressed confidence that the bill will pass.