SENATE DOCKET, NO. 276        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 646

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Barbara A. L'Italien

_________________

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 ensuring equal access to medical treatments essential for people with autism.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

 

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/30/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

2/1/2017

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/1/2017

James M. Murphy

4th Norfolk

2/2/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 276        FILED ON: 1/13/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 646

By Ms. L'Italien, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 646) of Barbara A. L'Italien, Marjorie C. Decker, Jason M. Lewis, James B. Eldridge and others for legislation to provide equal access to medical treatments essential for people with autism.  Health Care Financing.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 611 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act ensuring equal access to medical treatments essential for people with autism.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 118E of General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:-

Section 63- The Division shall cover the cost of habilitative or rehabilitative medically necessary treatments for individuals aged 22 and older who have been diagnosed with one  of the Autism Spectrum Disorders by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary. Treatments include, but are not limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that is necessary to develop, maintain or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual. In addition, the Division shall cover the cost of both dedicated and non-dedicated augmentative and alternative communication devices, including, but not limited to, medically necessary tablets.