HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1854        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul McMurtry and Michael F. Rush

_________________

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 Requiring Coverage of Medically Necessary Oral and Dental Care for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1854        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

An Act Requiring Coverage of Medically Necessary Oral and Dental Care for Head and Neck Cancer Survivor.

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

17O, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 17P. 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:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard

and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments

including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of

infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section

10J, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 10K. The division shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard

and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments

including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of

infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section

47II, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 47JJ. A policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or

renewed within the commonwealth that provides medical expense coverage shall provide

coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments

including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of

infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.

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

8KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 8LL. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group

hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide

coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard

and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments

including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of

infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.

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

4KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 4LL. A subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement

delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard

and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section

4CC, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 4DD. An individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard

and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental

procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in

enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer

including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,

and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and

root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments

including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of

infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but

not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation

therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation

necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative

services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to

eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and

neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting

from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration

procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head

and neck cancer or its treatment.