SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1442        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 550

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Richard T. Moore

_________________

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 to provide for tobacco cessation benefits.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Richard T. Moore

Worcester and Norfolk

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

Eileen M. Donoghue

First Middlesex

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

Sonia Chang-Diaz

Second Suffolk

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

34th Middlesex

Thomas M. McGee

Third Essex

Ellen Story

3rd Hampshire

Gailanne M. Cariddi

1st Berkshire


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1442        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 550

By Mr. Richard T. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 550) of Richard T. Moore, Jason M. Lewis, Eileen M. Donoghue, Kay Khan and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide coverage for tobacco use cessation under Commonwealth Care.  Health Care Financing.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 540 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act to provide for tobacco cessation benefits.

 

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 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17I the following section:-

Section 17J. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission a smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment benefit. Smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment and information benefits shall include nicotine replacement therapy, other evidence-based pharmacologic aids to quitting smoking, and accompanying counseling by a physician, certified tobacco use cessation counselor, or other qualified clinician. 

SECTION 2. Chapter 118H of the General Laws, as so appearing, 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.  Smoking and tobacco use cessation treatment and information benefits shall include nicotine replacement therapy, other evidence-based pharmacologic aids to quitting smoking, and accompanying counseling by a physician, certified tobacco use cessation counselor, or other qualified clinician.