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 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17A, inserted by section 5 of chapter 458 of the acts of 1993, the following section:-

Section 17B. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth, who is insured under the group insurance commission, coverage for licensed hospice services to terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, as set forth and regulated by the provisions of section fifty-seven D of chapter one hundred and eleven and as authorized by a duly licensed physician.

SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47P, inserted by section 142 of chapter 60 of the acts of 1994, the following section:-

Section 47Q. 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 licensed hospice services to terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, as set forth and regulated by the provisions of section fifty-seven D of chapter one hundred and eleven and as authorized by a duly licensed physician.

SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8 O, inserted by section 144 of said chapter 60, the following section:-

Section 8P. 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 licensed hospice services for terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, as set forth and regulated by the provisions of section fifty-seven D of chapter one hundred and eleven and as authorized by a duly licensed physician.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4P, inserted by section 146 of said chapter 60, the following section:-

Section 4Q. 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 licensed hospice services to terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, as set forth and regulated by the provisions of section fifty-seven D of chapter one hundred and eleven and as authorized by a duly licensed physician.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4G, inserted by section 149 of said chapter 60, the following section:-

Section 4H. Any group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for hospice services as defined in section fifty-seven D of chapter one hundred and eleven, during the life of the patient, to terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of six months or less; provided, however, that such services are determined to be appropriate and authorized by the patient's primary care or treating physician and are equivalent to those services provided by a licensed hospice program regulated by the department of public health.