SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2022        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 659

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John F. Keenan

_________________

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 relative to removing barriers to non-opioid pain management.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

John F. Keenan

Norfolk and Plymouth

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

3/6/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

3/23/2023

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex

7/8/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2022        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 659

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 659) of John F. Keenan and James B. Eldridge for legislation to remove barriers to non-opioid pain management.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 687 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to removing barriers to non-opioid pain management.

 

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 47KK of Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding in subsection (a) the following paragraph:-

Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the Commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under this section, shall not require a member to obtain a preauthorization for alternative pain management services identified by the carrier as necessary to comply with said guidelines developed by the division of insurance.

SECTION 2. Section 47KK is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Carriers shall annually distribute educational materials to providers and members within their networks about the pain management access plan and make information about their plans publicly available on their websites.

SECTION 3. Section 8MM of Chapter 176A is hereby amended by adding in subsection (a) the following paragraph:-

Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the Commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under this section, shall not require a member to obtain a preauthorization for alternative pain management services identified by the carrier as necessary to comply with said guidelines developed by the division of insurance.

SECTION 4. Section 8MM of Chapter 176A is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Carriers shall annually distribute educational materials to providers and members within their networks about the pain management access plan and make information about their plans publicly available on their websites.

SECTION 5. Section 4MM of Chapter 176B is hereby amended by adding in subsection (a) the following paragraph:-

Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the Commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under this section, shall not require a member to obtain a preauthorization for alternative pain management services identified by the carrier as necessary to comply with said guidelines developed by the division of insurance.

SECTION 6. Section 4MM of Chapter 176B is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Carriers shall annually distribute educational materials to providers and members within their networks about the pain management access plan and make information about their plans publicly available on their websites.

SECTION 7. Section 4EE of Chapter 176G is hereby amended by adding in subsection (a) the following paragraph:-

Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under this section, shall not require a member to obtain a preauthorization for alternative pain management services identified by the carrier as necessary to comply with said guidelines developed by the division of insurance.

SECTION 8. Section 4EE of Chapter 176G is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (c), and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(c) Carriers shall annually distribute educational materials to providers and members within their networks about the pain management access plan and make information about their plans publicly available on their websites.