Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1037 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. 1289 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1037
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Natalie M. Higgins and Christine P. Barber
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 trans-inclusive health care access.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/18/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/18/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/23/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/23/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/26/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/30/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/21/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex2/24/2023 1 of 4
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1289 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1037
18	18	By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by
19	19	bill, House, No. 1037) of Natalie M. Higgins, Christine P. Barber and others relative to trans-
20	20	inclusive health care access. Financial Services.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
30	30	2section 17R the following section:-
31	31	3 Section 17S. The commission shall not reject a letter from a health care provider,
32	32	4including, but not limited to a qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the commission
33	33	5require more than one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming care for a
34	34	6person for the purposes of accessing gender-affirming health care.
35	35	7 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
36	36	8unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
37	37	9minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
38	38	10and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
39	39	11 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
40	40	12section 10N the following section:- 2 of 4
41	41	13 Section 10O. The division shall not reject a letter from a health care provider, including,
42	42	14but not limited to a qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the division require more
43	43	15than one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming care for a person for the
44	44	16purposes of accessing gender-affirming health care.
45	45	17 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
46	46	18unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
47	47	19minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
48	48	20and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
49	49	21 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
50	50	22section 47NN the following section:-
51	51	23 Section 47OO. No insurer or producer authorized to issue policies of insurance pursuant
52	52	24to sections 108 or 110 shall reject a letter from a health care provider, including, but not limited
53	53	25to a qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the insurer or producer require more than
54	54	26one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming care for a person for the purposes
55	55	27of accessing gender-affirming health care.
56	56	28 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
57	57	29unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
58	58	30minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
59	59	31and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
60	60	32 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
61	61	33section 8OO the following section:- 3 of 4
62	62	34 Section 8PP. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a letter from a health care
63	63	35provider, including, but not limited to a qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the
64	64	36corporation require more than one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming
65	65	37care for a person for the purposes of accessing gender-affirming health care.
66	66	38 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
67	67	39unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
68	68	40minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
69	69	41and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
70	70	42 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
71	71	43section 4OO the following section:-
72	72	44 Section 4PP. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a letter from a health care
73	73	45provider, including, but not limited to a qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the
74	74	46corporation require more than one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming
75	75	47care for a person for the purposes of accessing gender-affirming health care.
76	76	48 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
77	77	49unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
78	78	50minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
79	79	51and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
80	80	52 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
81	81	53section 4GG the following section:- 4 of 4
82	82	54 Section 4HH. No health maintenance organization subject to this chapter, and no officer
83	83	55or agent thereof, shall reject a letter from a health care provider, including, but not limited to a
84	84	56qualified mental health care professional, nor shall the health maintenance organization require
85	85	57more than one letter, affirming the medical necessity of gender affirming care for a person for
86	86	58the purposes of accessing gender-affirming health care.
87	87	59 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
88	88	60unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
89	89	61minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
90	90	62and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.