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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1750 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1207
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, 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 prohibiting surprise outside billing.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2023Nicholas A. Boldyga3rd Hampden1/26/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth1/26/2023F. Jay Barrows1st Bristol1/26/2023Kelly W. Pease4th Hampden1/31/2023Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester2/1/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1750 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1207
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1207) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including
members of the General Court) to consider and evaluate the efficacy of policies that require
hospitals and other health care providers to sell bundled packages of services that include fees
for all relevant physicians. Health Care Financing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1280 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act prohibiting surprise outside billing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a
2commission to study and provide recommendations to address and prevent surprise outside
3billing.
4 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint
5committee on health care financing, who shall serve as the co-chairs; one member to be
6appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member to be appointed by the
7president of the senate; one member to be appointed by the house minority leader; one member
8to be appointed by the senate minority leader; the director of the health policy commission or a 2 of 2
9designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; and the executive
10director of the center for health information and analysis or a designee.
11 SECTION 3. The commission shall consider and evaluate the efficacy of policies that
12require hospitals and other health care providers to sell bundled packages of services that include
13fees for all relevant physicians, including but not limited to anesthesiologists, pathologists, and
14radiologists, with the intention of limiting and preventing surprise outside billing. The
15commission shall take into consideration similar laws put in place by other states. The
16commission shall develop recommendations including but not limited to prohibiting surprise
17outside billing, requiring insurance carriers to hold members harmless, and applying regulations
18across all providers, including health maintenance organizations and preferred provider
19organizations.
20 SECTION 4. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any
21recommendations and drafted legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and
22means, the joint committee on health care financing, and the clerks of the house of
23representatives and senate within 12 months of the passage of this act.