FILED ON: 11/23/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3871

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act relative to diabetes prevention.

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 is hereby amended by adding after section 234 the following new section:—

Section 235.  (a) The commissioner of public health shall establish within the department a diabetes action plan. The department shall develop the plan in consultation with the health policy commission, the center for health information and analysis, the group insurance commission and the division of medical assistance.

(b) The plan shall identify goals and benchmarks to reduce the prevalence and impact of diabetes in the commonwealth and develop appropriate state agency and department plans to reduce the incidence of diabetes in the commonwealth, improve diabetes care, and control complications associated with diabetes.

(c)  The department , in consultation with department of public health, the health policy commission, the center for health information and analysis, the group insurance commission, and division of medical assistance, shall submit a report to the senate committee on ways and means, the house committee on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, and the joint committee on public health, by July 1st of each odd-numbered year on (i) the financial effect of diabetes in the commonwealth and its political subdivisions; (ii) the number of persons affected by diabetes in the commonwealth; (iii) the number of persons included in  prevention and diabetes control programs implemented by the department and other state agencies, municipalities, non-governmental entities and others; (iv) the effects and benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at controlling diabetes  and  preventing  the  disease; (v) a description of the level of coordination existing between state agencies with respect to diabetes prevention, control and treatment and actions taken under the plan; (vi) a description of goals and benchmarks established pursuant to the plan; (vii) the extent of progress made toward achieving the goals and benchmarks established pursuant to the plan; (viii) a description of any additional actions that should be implemented relative to diabetes prevention, control and treatment; (ix) a description of the funding needs for any programs established or recommended pursuant to the plan; and (x) recommendations, if any, for legislation relative to diabetes prevention, control and treatment.