HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1311        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 137

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Gerard J. Cassidy

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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 providing for insurance coverage for vision screening for children.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1311        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 137

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 195 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act providing for insurance coverage for vision screening for children.

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, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17I the following section:

Section 17J. The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the commission shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10F the following section: —

Section 10G. The division shall provide coverage for the cost of a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, the division shall provide coverage of a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 110L the following section: —

Section 110M. Any blanket or general policy of insurance which is delivered or issued for delivery within or without the commonwealth and which covers residents of the commonwealth and any employees health and welfare fund which is promulgated or renewed to any person or group of persons in the commonwealth shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71.. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after section 8Z the following section:—

Section 8AA. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, delivered, issued, or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder; within or without the commonwealth, shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4Z the following section:—

Section 4AA. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, delivered, issued, or renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, shall provide coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4S the following section:—

Section 4T. Any group health maintenance contract, except contracts providing supplemental coverage to Medicare or to other government programs, delivered, issued or renewed by agreement within or without the commonwealth shall provide to a member or enrollee coverage for a vision screening for children conducted within 12 months prior to entering kindergarten, pursuant to the first paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71. The vision screening shall be conducted by personnel approved by the department of public health and trained in vision screening techniques developed by the department of public health in consultation with the department of education.

For children who fail to pass the vision screening and for children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental delay, coverage shall be provided for a comprehensive eye examination performed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist chosen by the child’s parent or guardian indicating any pertinent diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, recommendation and evidence of follow-up treatment, if necessary.