HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 941        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 879

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act providing insurance coverage for base line echogram testing for certain persons..

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.  Section 23 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “writing”, in line 8, the words: - ; and no pupil shall be required to take part in any physical education exercises unless the pupil undergoes a physical which includes a base-line echogram.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47W the following section:—

Section 47X.  Any individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 108, and any group blanket policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 110, except policies providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or to other government programs, delivered, issued or renewed by agreement within or without the commonwealth shall provide coverage for the cost of base-line echogram testing for any child attending public schools in grades K through 12.

SECTION 3.  Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8Y the following section:—

Section 8Z.  Any contract, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or other governmental programs, between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which shall be delivered or issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall provide, as a basic benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth and to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth, for expense for base-line echogram testing.  Said base-line echogram testing shall be provided in either a hospital or other setting and which shall meet standards promulgated by the commissioner of public health.

 SECTION 4.  Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4Y the following section:—

Section 4Z.  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 base-line echogram testing and as authorized by a duly licensed physician.

The benefits provided in this section shall meet all other terms and conditions within a subscription certificate.  Medical service agreements shall not reduce or eliminate coverage due to the requirements of this section.