HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2907        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2071

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Aaron Michlewitz

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to mandate-lite products for small businesses.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2907        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2071

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to mandate-lite products for small businesses.

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 175 of the General Laws 175 is hereby amended by inserting after section 111H, the following section:--

Section 111I. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner shall not disapprove a policy of accident and sickness insurance which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance solely on the basis that it does not include coverage for at least 1 mandated benefit.

(b) The commissioner shall not approve a policy of accident and sickness insurance which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance unless it provides, at a minimum, coverage for:

(1)pregnant women, infants and children as set forth in section 47C;

(2)prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care as set forth in section 47F;

(3)cytologic screening and mammographic examination as set forth in section 47G;

(3A)diabetes-related services, medications, and supplies as defined in section 47N;

(4) early intervention services as set forth in said section 47C; and

(5) mental health services as set forth in section 47B; provided however, that if the policy limits coverage for outpatient physician office visits, the commissioner shall not disapprove the policy on the basis that coverage for outpatient mental health services is not as extensive as required by said section 47B, if the coverage is at least as extensive as coverage under the policy for outpatient physician services.

(c) The commissioner shall not approve a policy of accident and sickness insurance which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance that does not include coverage for at least one mandated benefit unless the carrier continues to offer at least one policy that provides coverage that includes all mandated benefits.

(d) For purposes of this section, "mandated benefit" shall mean a requirement in this chapter that requires coverage for specific health services, specific diseases or certain providers of health care.

(e) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, no plan approved by the commissioner under this section shall be available to an employer who has provided a policy of accident and sickness insurance to any employee within 12 months.

SECTION 2. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 1D the following section:

Section 1E. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner shall not disapprove a contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital services plan solely on the basis that it does not include coverage for at least one mandated benefit.

(b) The commissioner shall not approve a contract unless it provides, at a minimum, coverage for:

(1)pregnant women, infants and children as set forth in section 47C;

(2)prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care as set forth in section 47F;

(3)cytologic screening and mammographic examination as set forth in section 47G;

(3A)diabetes-related services, medications, and supplies as defined in section 47N;

(4) early intervention services as set forth in said section 47C; and

(5) mental health services as set forth in section 47B; provided however, that if the policy limits coverage for outpatient physician office visits, the commissioner shall not disapprove the policy on the basis that coverage for outpatient mental health services is not as extensive as required by said section 47B, if the coverage is at least as extensive as coverage under the policy for outpatient physician services.

(c) The commissioner shall not approve a contract that does not include coverage for at least one mandated benefit unless the corporation continues to offer at least one contract that provides coverage that includes all mandated benefits.

(d) For purposes of this section, "mandated benefit" shall mean a requirement in this chapter that requires coverage for specific health services, specific diseases or certain providers of health care.

(e) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, no plan approved by the commissioner under this section shall be available to an employer who has provided a hospital services plan, to any employee within 12 months.

SECTION 3. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after section 6B, the following section:-- Section 6C. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner shall not disapprove a subscription certificate solely on the basis that it does not include coverage for at least one mandated benefit.

(b) The commissioner shall not approve a subscription certificate unless it provides, at a minimum, coverage for:

(1)pregnant women, infants and children as set forth in section 47C;

(2)prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care as set forth in section 47F;

(3)cytologic screening and mammographic examination as set forth in section 47G;

(3A)diabetes-related services, medications, and supplies as defined in section 47N;

(4) early intervention services as set forth in said section 47C; and

(5) mental health services as set forth in section 47B; provided however, that if the policy limits coverage for outpatient physician office visits, the commissioner shall not disapprove the policy on the basis that coverage for outpatient mental health services is not as extensive as required by said section 47B, if the coverage is at least as extensive as coverage under the policy for outpatient physician services.

(c) The commissioner shall not approve a subscription certificate that does not include coverage for at least 1 mandated benefit unless the corporation continues to offer at least one subscription certificate that provides coverage that includes all mandated benefits.

(d) For purposes of this section, "mandated benefit" shall mean a requirement in this chapter that requires coverage for specific health services, specific diseases or certain providers of health care.

(e) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (f) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, no plan approved by the commissioner under this section shall be available to an employer who has provided a subscription certificate, to any employee within 12 months.

Section 4. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 16 the following new section:

Section 16A. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner shall not disapprove a health maintenance contract solely on the basis that it does not include coverage for at least 1 mandated benefit.

(b) The commissioner shall not approve a health maintenance contract unless it provides coverage for:

(1)pregnant women, infants and children as set forth in section 47C;

(2)prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care as set forth in section 47F;

(3)cytologic screening and mammographic examination as set forth in section 47G;

(3A)diabetes-related services, medications, and supplies as defined in section 47N;

(4) early intervention services as set forth in said section 47C; and

(5) mental health services as set forth in section 47B; provided however, that if the policy limits coverage for outpatient physician office visits, the commissioner shall not disapprove the policy on the basis that coverage for outpatient mental health services is not as extensive as required by said section 47B, if the coverage is at least as extensive as coverage under the policy for outpatient physician services.

(c) The commissioner shall not approve a health maintenance contract that does not include coverage for at least one mandated benefit unless the health maintenance organization continues to offer at least one health maintenance contract that provides coverage that includes all mandated benefits.

(d) For purposes of this section, "mandated benefit" shall mean a requirement in this chapter that requires coverage for specific health services, specific diseases or certain providers of health care.

(e) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(f) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, no plan approved by the commissioner under this section shall be available to an employer who has provided a health maintenance contract, to any employee within 12 months.