HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3992        FILED ON: 2/6/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4111

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Nine

_______________

An Act providing for medical coverage for acupuncture..

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, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47Y the following section:-

Section 47AA.  All individual or group accident and health insurance policies and health service contracts delivered, issued or renewed by an insurer or nonprofit health service corporation which provide benefits to individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth or to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth shall provide benefits for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 2. Section 205 of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-

The commissioner shall not approve a policy that does not provide benefits for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 3.  Chapter l76A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 206 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 8AA the following section:-

Section 8BB.  Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide as benefits to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 4.  Chapter l76B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4BB the following section:-

Section 4CC.  Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide a benefits to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 5.  Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4T the following section:-

Section 4U.  Any group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for acupuncture as defined in section l of chapter 112.SECTION 1.  Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47Y the following section:-

Section 47AA.  All individual or group accident and health insurance policies and health service contracts delivered, issued or renewed by an insurer or nonprofit health service corporation which provide benefits to individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth or to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth shall provide benefits for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 2. Section 205 of said chapter 175, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-

The commissioner shall not approve a policy that does not provide benefits for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 3.  Chapter l76A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 206 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 8AA the following section:-

Section 8BB.  Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide as benefits to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 4.  Chapter l76B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4BB the following section:-

Section 4CC.  Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide a benefits to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth for services rendered by a licensed acupuncturist.

SECTION 5.  Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4T the following section:-

Section 4U.  Any group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for acupuncture as defined in section l of chapter 112.