HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2237        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2137

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act relative to accessible medical equipment. ..

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 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is

hereby amended by inserting after section 5S the following section:- 

Section 5T  (a) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing standards for the minimum technical criteria for medical diagnostic equipment used in (or in conjunction with) physician's offices, clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals, and other medical settings. The standards shall ensure that such equipment is accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities, and shall allow independent entry to, use of, and exit from the equipment by such individuals to the maximum extent possible.

(b) Medical Diagnostic Equipment Covered- The standards issued under subsection (a) for medical diagnostic equipment shall apply to equipment that includes examination tables, examination chairs (including chairs used for eye examinations or procedures, and dental examinations or procedures), weight scales, mammography equipment, x-ray machines and other diagnostic radiological equipment, and any other equipment commonly used for diagnostic purposes by health professionals.