SENATE DOCKET, NO. 723 FILED ON: 1/18/2017
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 555
|
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joan B. Lovely
_________________
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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
|
Joan B. Lovely | Second Essex |
|
Diana DiZoglio | 14th Essex | 1/23/2017 |
Ruth B. Balser | 12th Middlesex | 1/23/2017 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 1/25/2017 |
Richard J. Ross | Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex | 1/25/2017 |
Thomas M. McGee | Third Essex | 1/31/2017 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 2/2/2017 |
Elizabeth A. Malia | 11th Suffolk | 2/3/2017 |
Paul R. Heroux | 2nd Bristol | 2/3/2017 |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk | 2/3/2017 |
Barbara A. L'Italien | Second Essex and Middlesex | 2/3/2017 |
Mike Connolly | 26th Middlesex | 2/3/2017 |
James J. O'Day | 14th Worcester | 2/3/2017 |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester | 2/3/2017 |
Walter F. Timilty | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth | 2/3/2017 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 2/3/2017 |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex | 2/3/2017 |
Jack Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 3/6/2017 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 723 FILED ON: 1/18/2017
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 555
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 555) of Joan B. Lovely, Diana DiZoglio, Ruth B. Balser, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to require mental health parity for disability policies. Financial Services. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
_______________
An Act requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
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 108 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following:-
"13. No individual policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall impose benefit limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health disorders, where such limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected by physical disorders."
SECTION 2. Section 110 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
"(Q) No certificate of coverage under a group policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall impose benefit limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health disorders, where such limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected by physical disorders."
SECTION 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit periodic medical exams or other procedures reasonably calculated to determine whether or not a disability exists, or continues to exist; provided said examinations, procedures or protocols are comparable and no more frequent or onerous that those required for disabilities caused by physical disorders.