HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3460        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 933

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act Relative to the treatment of infantile cataracts..

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, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  17J.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation.  The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 118E, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  61.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician. 

SECTION 3.  Section 108 of Chapter 175 is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  K.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 4.  Section 110 of Chapter 175 is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  N.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 5.  Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  8CC.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 6.  Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  4CC.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 7.  Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  4U.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.

SECTION 8.  Chapter 176I of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section  12.  Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers infantile cataract surgery must provide coverage for aphakic lenses for treatment and rehabilitation. The coverage must include benefits for prosthetic contact lenses or glasses, as required as medically necessary by the physician.