SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1586        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

_________________

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 reducing unnecessary delays in patient care.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1586        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

An Act relative to reducing unnecessary delays in patient care.

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.  Subsection (b) of section 25 of chapter 176O of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “2 business days” and inserting in place thereof the following:- 24 hours

SECTION 2.  Said subsection (b) of said section 25 of said chapter 176O is hereby further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:- Payers and entities acting for payers under contract shall not use appeals processes or other administrative means to delay responding a to completed prior authorization request from a provider in accordance with this subsection. The division shall conduct audits to ensure compliance with this subsection.