SECTION 1. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
section 47DD, the following section:
Section 47EE.
(A) For the purposes of this Section, the terms “Lyme disease” and “long-term antibiotic
therapy” are given the same definition as provided in M.G.L. Chapter 112, Section 12DD.
(B) Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides medical expense coverage shall provide coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy of Lyme disease when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a licensed physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results, or response to treatment. Long-term antibiotic therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.
SECTION 2. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
section 8FF the following section:-
Section 8GG. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy of Lyme disease when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a licensed physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or response to treatment.
Treatment otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.
SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4FF, the following section:-
Section 4GG. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued, or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for
long-term antibiotic therapy of Lyme disease when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a licensed physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.
SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
section 4X the following section:-
Section 4Y. Any individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage
for long-term antibiotic therapy of Lyme disease when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a licensed physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or response to treatment. Treatment otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such treatment may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.