HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2480        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2432

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber

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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 improving medical care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2480        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2432

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1179 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act improving medical care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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. Section 10 of chapter 13 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- The board shall require that physicians complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 2. Section 11C of said chapter 13 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- The board shall require that physician assistants complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 3. Section 11D of said chapter 13 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- The board shall require that dieticians and nutritionists complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 4. Section 14 of said chapter 13 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- (l) The board shall require that nurses complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 5. Section 19 of said chapter 13 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- The board shall require that dental professionals complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 6. Section 90 of said chapter 13 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- The board shall require that allied mental health and human services professions complete training to address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of health equity within the executive office of health and human services, shall evaluate the access to medical care, unmet mental health needs, discrimination, relationships with community support specialists, and increasing the amount of qualified trained health care providers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The executive office of health and human services shall, based on such evaluation, promulgate rules and regulations to reduce the impact of such determinants on health care disparities outcomes for such individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.