SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1460        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 573

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Eileen M. Donoghue

_________________

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 providing for tobacco cessation benefits.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Eileen M. Donoghue

First Middlesex

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.

12th Hampden

Sonia Chang-Diaz

Second Suffolk

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

26th Middlesex

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1460        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 573

By Ms. Donoghue, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 573) of Eileen M. Donoghue, William N. Brownsberger, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Sonia Chang-Diaz 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. 550 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act providing 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:
 

Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17K the following section:-

Section 17L. The commission shall provide to any active and 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 (1) screening for tobacco use; (2) coverage for at least 90 days of all FDA-approved pharmacologic aids per quit attempt; and (3) coverage for at least 300 minutes of individual, group and telephone counseling to be performed by a physician, certified tobacco use cessation counselor, or other qualified clinician. The benefit must be covered at least twice per year. Cost-sharing and prior authorization requirements are prohibited.