Section 12 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the beginning of the section the following new definitions:

“Managed Care Organization”, any entity with which the Commonwealth contracts to provide managed care services to eligible MassHealth enrollees on a capitated basis.

"Network'', a grouping of health care providers who contract with a managed care organization to provide services to MassHealth enrollees covered by the managed care organization’s plans, policies, contracts or other arrangements.

“Non-network provider”, a health care provider who has not entered into a contract with a managed care organization to provide services to MassHealth enrollees. 

Section 12 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as so appearing, is further amended by inserting at the end of the section the following new language:

For emergency, post-stabilization, and certain other services that have received a prior approval by a managed care organization contracting with the Commonwealth to provide managed care services to MassHealth enrollees, health care providers not included in a managed care organization’s network, must accept a rate equal to the rate paid by Medicaid for the same or similar services.  Nothing in this section shall prohibit a managed care organization from denying payment for unapproved services conducted by a non-network provider.