HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5645

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, August 10, 2026.

 The committee on Health Care Financing, to whom was referred the Bill promoting consumer choice in health care (House, No. 4953), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefor the accompanying bill (House, No. 5645) [Cost: Greater than $100,000.00].

For the committee,

JOHN J. LAWN, JR.

        FILED ON: 7/31/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5645

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 promoting consumer choice in health 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. Section 54A of chapter 71 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “eleven C“, in line 3, the following words:- or a licensed athletic trainer, who have completed the annual head injury safety training, as required by 105 CMR 201.007.

 SECTION 2. Said section 54A of chapter 71 is hereby further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following sentence:-

 A licensed athletic trainer shall be employed by a superintendent or school committee at every high school in the commonwealth offering interscholastic athletic activities.

 SECTION 3. Section 8A (b)(7) of chapter 69 is hereby amended by inserting the word “athletic” after “coaches” and before “trainers”. Section 8A (c) of chapter 69 is hereby amended by inserting the word “athletic” after “coaches” and before “trainers”.

 SECTION 4 . Chapter 176O of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following section:

 Section 31. A licensed athletic trainer, acting with a referral from a physician, who acts within the scope of practice authorized by law shall not be denied reimbursement by a carrier as defined under this chapter, for those covered services if the carrier would reimburse another health care provider for those services.

 This section pertains only to those health plans that provide coverage for a particular type of health service, or for any particular medical condition that is within the scope of practice of licensed athletic trainers.

 Services provided by licensed athletic trainers may be subject to reasonable deductibles, co-payment and co-insurance amounts, fee or benefit limits, practice parameters, and utilization review consistent with applicable rules adopted by the division of insurance; provided that the amounts, limits, and review shall not function to direct treatment in a manner unfairly discriminative against athletic trainer care, and collectively shall be no more restrictive than those applicable under the same policy for care or services provided by other health care providers.

 Nothing in this section shall be construed as impeding or preventing either the provision or coverage of health care services by licensed athletic trainers within the lawful scope of athletic trainer practice.