Session Laws

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 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47L the following section:-

Section 47M. Any individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section one hundred and eight, and any group blanket policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section one hundred and ten, shall provide coverage for a bone marrow transplant or transplants for persons who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that has progressed to metastatic disease; provided, however, that said person shall meet the criteria established by the department of public health. The department of public health shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for eligibility for coverage hereunder which shall be consistent with medical research protocols reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute.

SECTION 2. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8N the following section:-

Section 8 O. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that shall be delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide, as benefits to all individual subscribers or members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth, coverage for a bone marrow transplant or transplants for persons who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that has progressed to metastatic disease; provided, however, that said person shall meet the criteria established by the department of public health. The department of public health shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for eligibility for coverage hereunder which shall be consistent with medical research protocols reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute.

SECTION 3. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4N the following section:-

Section 4 O. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement that shall be delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide as a benefit for all individual subscribers or members within the commonwealth and all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth, coverage for a bone marrow transplant or transplants for persons who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that has progressed to metastatic disease; provided, however, that said person shall meet the criteria established by the department of public health. The department of public health shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for eligibility for coverage hereunder which shall be consistent with medical research protocols reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4E the following section:-

Section 4F. Any group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for a bone marrow transplant or transplants for persons who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that has progressed to metastatic disease; provided, however, that said person shall meet the criteria established by the department of public health. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for eligibility for coverage hereunder which shall be consistent with medical research protocols reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute.

SECTION 5. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1992 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 17 the following new section:-

Section 17A. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for a bone marrow transplant for persons who have been diagnosed with breast cancer that has progressed to metastatic disease provided, however, that said person shall meet the criteria established by the department of public health. The department of public health shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing criteria for eligibility for coverage hereunder which shall be consistent with medical research protocols reviewed and approved by the National Cancer Institute.