HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 799        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Angelo J. Puppolo, 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 dental insurance coverage of periodontal treatments.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 799        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

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

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 dental insurance coverage of periodontal treatments.

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 adding the following section:-

Section 35. Any dental benefits plan, as defined in section 1 of chapter 176X, offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for the following periodontal treatments as defined in section 5 of said chapter 176X: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction therapy.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 85. The division and any of its contracted insurers who provides dental benefit plans, as defined in section 1 of chapter 176X, shall provide coverage for the following periodontal treatments as defined in section 5 of said chapter 176X: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction therapy.

SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 176X, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(h) The commissioner may only approve carriers offering dental benefit plans, including carriers licensed under chapters 175, 176B, 176E, 176G or 176I, that include coverage for the following periodontal treatments as defined in section 5: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction therapy.

SECTION 4. Said chapter 176X is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 5. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Laser bacterial reduction therapy”, a procedure using laser technology to reduce harmful bacteria and prevent the spread of disease in the mouth.

“Oral cancer screenings”, an examination performed by a dentist or doctor to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in the mouth.

(b) Any dental benefit plan within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for the following periodontal treatments: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction therapy.