HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 673        FILED ON: 1/26/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1195

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

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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 assuring prompt access to health care.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 673        FILED ON: 1/26/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1195

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1101 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act assuring prompt access to health care.

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. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end the following new section:

Section 28:  Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that deductibles shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.

SECTION 2. Chapter 32B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end the following new section:

Section 30:  Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that deductibles shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.

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

Section 47LL: Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that deductibles shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.

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

Section 8NN: Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that deductibles shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.

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

Section  4NN: Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that a deductible shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.

SECTION 6.  Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section 33:- 

Section  33: Reimbursement of costs for medically appropriate evaluation and management services in outpatient settings, including but not limited to office- and hospital-based clinics, in accordance with guidelines developed by the division of insurance, shall be part of a basic benefits package offered by the insurer or a third party and shall not require a deductible; provided, however, that a deductible shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the Federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on deductibles for these services.