HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1979        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 486

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ruth B. Balser and Thomas M. Stanley

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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 to require health care coverage for the emergency psychiatric services.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1979        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 486

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 787 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act to require health care coverage for the emergency psychiatric services.

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. “Emergency services programs’ shall mean all programs subject to contract between the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership and nonprofit organizations for the provision of said emergency services.

SECTION 2. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 28. The commission shall provide to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary emergency service programs.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47II the following section:-

Section 47JJ. An individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued under section 108 that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and any group blanket or general policy of accident and sickness insurance issued under section 110 that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth, shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary emergency service programs.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8KK the following section:-

Section 8LL. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary emergency service programs.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4KK the following section:-

Section 4LL. A subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary emergency service programs.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4CC the following section:-

Section 4DD. A health maintenance contract issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary emergency service programs.

SECTION 7. All policies, contracts and certificates of health insurance subject to section 28 of chapter 32A, section 47JJ of chapter 175, section 8LL of chapter 176A, section 4LL of chapter 176B, and section 4DD of chapter 176G of the General Laws which are delivered, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2018 shall conform with the provisions of this act. Form filings implementing this act shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner of insurance.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2019.