Chapter 6D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 15 the following section:-

Section 15A. (a) No carrier or accountable care organization may obstruct patient choice by excluding a health care provider licensed under the laws of this state, irrespective of corporate structure or number of locations at which it conducts business, from participating on the carrier’s or ACO’s 's network of health care providers if the provider is located within the geographic coverage area of the health benefit plan and is willing to meet the terms and conditions of participation as established by the carrier or ACO as long as such measures are imposed equally on all health care providers in the same class.

(b) When a carrier or ACO denies a health care provider the right to enter into an agreement with the carrier or ACO on the grounds that the health care provider does not satisfy the terms and conditions established by the carrier or ACO for health care providers entering into agreements with the insurer, the insurer shall provide the provider with a written notice that: (1) explains the basis of the carrier's or ACO’s denial; and (2) states the specific terms and conditions that the health care provider, in the opinion of the carrier or ACO, does not satisfy.

(c) The office of patient protection shall have authority to enforce the provisions of this section.