SENATE DOCKET, NO. 896        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 511

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to improve health care for rheumatologic patients in the commonwealth..

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 47T of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following additional new section:

Section 47U: The commissioner shall establish an advisory panel of five medical experts to advise the commissioner on whether off-label uses for rheumatologic disease treatment not included in any of the standard reference compendia or in the medical literature are medically appropriate. The panel shall advise the commissioner whenever a dispute about coverage of such off-label prescription drugs prescribed by a physician is brought to the commissioner. All members of the advisory panel shall have significant expertise in treating rheumatologic disease, and the panel shall include at least one physician representing commercial insurers.

After consulting with said advisory panel, the commissioner may direct an insurer to make payments required by section forty-seven O of chapter one hundred and seventy-five, section eight P of chapter one hundred and seventy-six A, section four O of chapter one hundred and seventy-six B, and section four F of chapter one hundred and seventy-six G.

SECTION 2. Section 47K of Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding after the phrase “treatment of cancer” in the first, fourth, and eighth paragraphs the words “or rheumatologic disease”.