HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4945

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 23, 2026.

 The committee on Financial Services, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1224) of Sally P. Kerans relative to providing insurance coverage for biennial echocardiograms and concussion analyses for persons under eighteen years of age, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4945) ought to pass.

For the committee,

JAMES M. MURPHY.

        FILED ON: 1/5/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4945

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 providing insurance coverage for biennial echocardiograms for persons under the age of 18.

 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 inserting after section 17Z the following section:-

 Section 17AA. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for biennial echocardiogram and concussion analysis for persons between the ages of five and eighteen.

 SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting before section 47CCC, the following section:-

 Section 47AAA. Any blanket or general policy of insurance described in subdivision (A), (C), or (D) of section one hundred and ten which is issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, during the period within which this premium is effective, or any policy of accident or sickness insurance as described in section one hundred and eight which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and which is delivered or issued for delivery or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder in the commonwealth, during the period within which this provision is effective, or any employers' health and welfare fund which provides hospital expense and surgical expense benefits and which is issued or renewed to any person or group of persons in the commonwealth, during the period within which this provision is effective, shall provide coverage for biennial echocardiogram and concussion analysis for persons between the ages of five and eighteen.

 SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8DDD the following section:-

 Section 8EEE. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for biennial echocardiogram and concussion analysis for persons between the ages of five and eighteen.

 SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4DDD, the following section:-

 Section 4EEE. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued, or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for biennial echocardiogram and concussion analysis for persons between the ages of five and eighteen.

 SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4VV the following section:-

 Section 4WW. Any individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for biennial echocardiogram and concussion analysis for persons between the ages of five and eighteen.