SENATE DOCKET, NO. 882        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 507

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to reducing the cost of health care through parity for the same services..

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 10 of chapter 176O of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended, by inserting the following new subsection at the end thereof:

(d)Notwithstanding any provision of any individual or group policy or accident and health insurance, or any provision of a policy, contract, plan or agreement for hospital or medical service or indemnity, wherever such policy, contract, plan or agreement provides for reimbursement for any service which is in the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed physician, dentist, psychologist, podiatrist, osteopath, optometrist, chiropractor or other health care provider, the person entitled to benefits or the person performing services under the policy, contract, plan or agreement shall be entitled to reimbursement at an equitable and the lowest rate for such service, whether the service is performed by a physician, dentist, psychologist, podiatrist, osteopath, optometrist, chiropractor or other health care provider duly licensed under the laws of this commonwealth.