HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1037 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 908
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Ruth B. Balser
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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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Ruth B. Balser | 12th Middlesex | 1/14/2019 |
Joan B. Lovely | Second Essex | 1/31/2019 |
Carlos González | 10th Hampden | 1/23/2019 |
Christine P. Barber | 34th Middlesex | 1/25/2019 |
Tram T. Nguyen | 18th Essex | 1/27/2019 |
Elizabeth A. Malia | 11th Suffolk | 1/31/2019 |
Sean Garballey | 23rd Middlesex | 1/28/2019 |
Kay Khan | 11th Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Michael S. Day | 31st Middlesex | 1/28/2019 |
Adrian C. Madaro | 1st Suffolk | 1/28/2019 |
Denise Provost | 27th Middlesex | 1/28/2019 |
Mathew J. Muratore | 1st Plymouth | 1/28/2019 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 1/29/2019 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
David Paul Linsky | 5th Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Steven Ultrino | 33rd Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Kenneth I. Gordon | 21st Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Diana DiZoglio | First Essex | 1/29/2019 |
Angelo M. Scaccia | 14th Suffolk | 1/29/2019 |
Carmine Lawrence Gentile | 13th Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Jay D. Livingstone | 8th Suffolk | 1/29/2019 |
James J. O'Day | 14th Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Rebecca L. Rausch | Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
Joanne M. Comerford | Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
José F. Tosado | 9th Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Bud L. Williams | 11th Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Liz Miranda | 5th Suffolk | 1/30/2019 |
David M. Rogers | 24th Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Mike Connolly | 26th Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Daniel Cahill | 10th Essex | 1/31/2019 |
Colleen M. Garry | 36th Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Tami L. Gouveia | 14th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
Mindy Domb | 3rd Hampshire | 2/1/2019 |
Marjorie C. Decker | 25th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Jon Santiago | 9th Suffolk | 2/1/2019 |
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf | 17th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
Lori A. Ehrlich | 8th Essex | 2/1/2019 |
Christopher Hendricks | 11th Bristol | 2/1/2019 |
David Biele | 4th Suffolk | 2/1/2019 |
Brian W. Murray | 10th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1037 FILED ON: 1/15/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 908
By Ms. Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 908) of Ruth B. Balser and others for legislation to prohibit benefit limits and exclusions for behavioral health disorders on certain disability insurance policies. Financial Services. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 485 OF 2017-2018.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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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.