HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4075        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3947

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Lawn, Jr.

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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 relative to the examination of insurance company mergers.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4075        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3947

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to the examination of insurance company mergers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 19A of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the eighth sentence the following sentence:- Except in the case of an emergency situation determined by the commissioner as requiring immediate action to prevent damage to the public health, the commissioner shall not act on such agreement between: (i) any company or companies organized, licensed or otherwise authorized to transact accident or health insurance under subsections (a) and (d) of clause sixth of section 47 pursuant to sections 108 and 110; (ii) a nonprofit hospital service corporation authorized pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of chapter 176A; (iii) a nonprofit medical service corporation authorized pursuant to section 4 of chapter 176B; (iv) a dental service corporation pursuant to sections 4, 6 and 7 of chapter 176E; (v) an optometric service corporation pursuant to sections 4, 4A and 6 of chapter 176F; (vi) a health maintenance organization pursuant to section 16 of chapter 176G; (vii) a preferred provider arrangement authorized under chapter 176I; (viii) a health benefit plan pursuant to section 6 of chapter 176J; or (ix) a dental benefit insurance plan pursuant to section 2 of chapter 176X unless: (A) such agreement and accompanying documentation required by the preceding sentence has been on file with the division for at least 60 days; (B) the attorney general, the center for health information and analysis, the health policy commission, the executive office of health and human services and the office of Medicaid have been provided copies of such agreement and accompanying documents and given reasonable opportunity to supply information and comment on such merger or consolidation; and (C) a public hearing has been held by the division on such merger or consolidation agreement when requested by the applicant, the attorney general, the center for health information and analysis, the health policy commission, the executive office of health and human services, the office of Medicaid or any 10 taxpayers of the commonwealth.