HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2824        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2082

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Chris Walsh

_________________

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 promoting access to accurate medical information.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2824        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2082

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act promoting access to accurate medical information.

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 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following section:-

Section 51K. (a) As used in this section the following word shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:-

“Medically accurate”, information that is verified or supported by the weight of current scientific evidence, derived from research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods, and if available, published in peer-reviewed journals; and recognized as accurate, objective and complete by mainstream professional  medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Public Health Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics; government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Cancer Institute, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute of Health; and scientific advisory groups such as the Institute of Medicine and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule to the contrary, every contract entered into by the Commonwealth for the provision of reproductive health services shall require the provider to provide all clients with medically accurate, comprehensive, non-directive reproductive health care information, including but not limited to family planning, birth control, pregnancy, and post-partum care.

(c) The Commonwealth, through its agencies or any organization that receives funding from the Commonwealth, shall only refer clients seeking information regarding reproductive health services to a clinic or entity that counsels on, provides information about, or performs any reproductive-health counseling or service if that entity provides all clients with medically accurate, comprehensive, non-directive reproductive health care information, including but not limited to family planning, birth control, pregnancy, and post-partum.