SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1226        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 563

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to Provide Coverage for Tobacco Use Cessation Under Commonwealth Care.

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 118H of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following section:

Section 7. Any policy of insurance for accident or sickness, or agreement for medical or health services, which shall be delivered or issued or renewed or certified in this Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Care Health Insurance Program described in Chapter 118H of the General Laws, shall provide as a benefit to all individual subscribers and members within the Commonwealth, for expenses of tobacco use cessation treatment as hereinafter set forth.  Tobacco use cessation treatment shall include nicotine replacement therapy, other evidence-based pharmacologic aids to quitting tobacco use, and accompanying counseling by a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, dentist, certified tobacco treatment specialist, certified substance abuse counselor, licensed mental health counselors or other qualified clinician.