Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H940 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. 2438 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 940
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Ruth B. Balser
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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Ruth B. Balser12th Middlesex1/19/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/23/2023 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2438 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 940
18	18	By Representative Balser of Newton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 940) of Ruth
19	19	B. Balser and James B. Eldridge relative to mental health parity for disability policies. Financial
20	20	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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
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. Section 108 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
30	30	2adding the following:-
31	31	3 "13. No individual policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing
32	32	4income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall discriminate
33	33	5against persons disabled due to a mental health condition. “Mental health condition” is defined
34	34	6as any condition or disorder involving mental illness or substance use that falls under any of the
35	35	7diagnostic categories listed in the mental, behavioral or neurodevelopmental disorders section of
36	36	8the international classification of disease, as periodically revised. Discrimination includes:
37	37	9 1. Limiting benefits or excluding coverage for disabilities on the basis that the disability
38	38	10results from a mental health condition as defined herein.
39	39	11 2. Limitations on benefits or coverage exclusions for any disability resulting from a
40	40	12mental health condition that are not applied equally to all disabilities." 2 of 2
41	41	13 SECTION 2. Section 110 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
42	42	14adding the following subsection:-
43	43	15 "Q. No certificate of coverage under a group policy of short-term or long-term disability
44	44	16insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth
45	45	17shall discriminate against persons disabled due to a mental health condition. "Mental health
46	46	18condition" is defined as any condition or disorder involving mental illness or substance use that
47	47	19falls under any of the diagnostic categories listed in the mental, behavioral or
48	48	20neurodevelopmental disorders section of the international classification of disease, as
49	49	21periodically revised. Discrimination includes:
50	50	22 1. Limiting benefits or excluding coverage for disabilities on the basis that the disability
51	51	23results from a mental health condition as defined herein.
52	52	24 2. Limitations on benefits or coverage exclusions for any disability resulting from a
53	53	25mental health condition that are not applied equally to all disabilities."
54	54	26 SECTION 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit periodic medical exams or
55	55	27other procedures reasonably calculated to determine whether or not a disability exists, or
56	56	28continues to exist; provided said examinations, procedures or protocols are comparable and no
57	57	29more frequent or onerous than those required for disabilities caused by physical disorders.