SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1784         FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 540

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Richard T. Moore

_______________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
              Court assembled:

              The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying:

An Act to provide for tobacco cessation benefits.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1784        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 540

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE
                                SENATE
                            , NO. 563 OF 2009-2010.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 

An Act to provide for tobacco cessation benefits.
 

              Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                              SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17H the following section:--

                              Section 17I. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission a smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment benefit. Smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment and information benefits shall include nicotine replacement therapy, other evidence-based pharmacologic aids to quitting smoking, and accompanying counseling by a physician, certified tobacco use cessation counselor, or other qualified clinician. 

                              SECTION 2. Chapter 118H of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following section:

                              Section 7. Any policy of insurance for accident or sickness, or agreement for medical or health services, which shall be delivered or issued or renewed or certified in this Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program described in Chapter 118H of the General Laws, shall provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the Commonwealth, for expenses of tobacco use cessation treatment as hereinafter set forth.  Smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment and information benefits shall include nicotine replacement therapy, other evidence-based pharmacologic aids to quitting smoking, and accompanying counseling by a physician, certified tobacco use cessation counselor, or other qualified clinician.