Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1022 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1364 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1022
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Colleen M. Garry
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex1/10/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1364 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1022
18	18	By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1022) of Colleen
19	19	M. Garry relative to providing coverage for physical therapy preventative, ongoing chronic
20	20	maintenance, and acute treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients. Financial Services.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 1095 OF 2021-2022.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2section 17O, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 17P. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of
34	34	4the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission that provides coverage for
35	35	5cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for physical therapy preventative,
36	36	6ongoing chronic maintenance, and acute treatment for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients.
37	37	7 SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
38	38	8section 47II, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:- 2 of 3
39	39	9 Section 47JJ. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued,
40	40	10delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides medical expense coverage shall
41	41	11provide for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for
42	42	12Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a
43	43	13physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or
44	44	14response to therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be
45	45	15denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or
46	46	16investigational in nature.
47	47	17 SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
48	48	18section 8KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
49	49	19 Section 8LL. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual
50	50	20or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth
51	51	21shall provide coverage for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment
52	52	22physical therapy for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary
53	53	23and ordered by a physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms,
54	54	24diagnostic test results or response to therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to
55	55	25this section shall not be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven,
56	56	26experimental, or investigational in nature.
57	57	27 SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
58	58	28section 4KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
59	59	29 Section 4LL. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service
60	60	30agreement delivered, issued, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall provide coverage for 3 of 3
61	61	31preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for Ehler
62	62	32Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a
63	63	33physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results
64	64	34and response in therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not
65	65	35be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or
66	66	36investigational in nature.
67	67	37 SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
68	68	38section 4CC, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
69	69	39 Section 4DD. Any individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide
70	70	40coverage for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for
71	71	41Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a
72	72	42physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results
73	73	43and response in therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not
74	74	44be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or
75	75	45investigational in nature.