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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2063 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 621
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Julian Cyr
_________________
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 relative to gender-affirming hair removal treatment.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Julian CyrCape and Islands 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2063 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 621
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 621) of Julian Cyr for legislation
relative to gender-affirming hair removal treatment. Financial Services.
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 relative to gender-affirming hair removal treatment.
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. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following new section:-
3 Section 31. (a) Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee
4of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for
5gender-affirming hair removal procedures including, but not limited to, laser hair removal and
6electrolysis hair removal prescribed as medical treatment in accordance with accepted standards
7of care to affirm the gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of two-spirit,
8transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. Coverage shall be subject
9to a statement from a treating provider that the procedure is necessary for treatment related to an
10individual’s gender identity. The benefits in this section shall not be subject to any greater
11deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other benefit provided by
12the commission. 2 of 5
13 (b) A health insurance carrier may not exclude coverage for laser hair removal,
14electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when these procedures are prescribed
15as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.
16 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
17Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 10N the following new section:-
18 Section 10O. (a) The division shall provide coverage for gender-affirming hair removal
19procedures including, but not limited to, laser hair removal and electrolysis hair removal
20prescribed as medical treatment in accordance with accepted standards of care to affirm the
21gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary,
22intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. Coverage shall be subject to a statement from a
23treating provider that the procedure is necessary for treatment related to an individual’s gender
24identity. The benefits in this section shall not be subject to any greater deductible, coinsurance,
25copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other benefit provided by the division.
26 (b) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance
27organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract
28to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan may not exclude
29coverage for laser hair removal, electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when
30these procedures are prescribed as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.
31 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
32is hereby amended by inserting after section 47TT the following new section:-
33 Section 47UU. (a) The following shall provide coverage for gender-affirming hair
34removal procedures including, but not limited to, laser hair removal and electrolysis hair removal 3 of 5
35prescribed as medical treatment in accordance with accepted standards of care to affirm the
36gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary,
37intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. (i) any policy of accident and sickness insurance, as
38described in section 108, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and
39which is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and
40policyholder in the commonwealth; (ii) any blanket or general policy of insurance described in
41subdivision (A), (C) or (D) of section 110 which provides hospital expense and surgical expense
42insurance and which is delivered, issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the
43insurer and the policyholder in or outside of the commonwealth; or (iii) any employees’ health
44and welfare fund which provides hospital expense and surgical expense benefits and which is
45delivered, issued or renewed to any person or group of persons in the commonwealth. Coverage
46shall be subject to a statement from a treating provider that the procedure is necessary for
47treatment related to an individual’s gender identity. The benefits in this section shall not be
48subject to any greater deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other
49benefit provided by the insurer.
50 (b) A health insurance carrier may not exclude coverage for laser hair removal,
51electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when these procedures are prescribed
52as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.
53 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
54Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 38 the following new section:-
55 Section 39. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or
56group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall 4 of 5
57provide coverage for gender-affirming hair removal procedures including, but not limited to,
58laser hair removal and electrolysis hair removal prescribed as medical treatment in accordance
59with accepted standards of care to affirm the gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4,
60of two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. Coverage
61shall be subject to a statement from a treating provider that the procedure is necessary for
62treatment related to an individual’s gender identity. The benefits in this section shall not be
63subject to any greater deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other
64benefit provided by the insurer.
65 (b) A health insurance carrier may not exclude coverage for laser hair removal,
66electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when these procedures are prescribed
67as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.
68 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official
69Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 25 the following new section:-
70 Section 26: Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service
71agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for
72gender-affirming hair removal procedures including, but not limited to, laser hair removal and
73electrolysis hair removal prescribed as medical treatment in accordance with accepted standards
74of care to affirm the gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of two-spirit,
75transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. Coverage shall be subject
76to a statement from a treating provider that the procedure is necessary for treatment related to an
77individual’s gender identity. The benefits in this section shall not be subject to any greater 5 of 5
78deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other benefit provided by
79the insurer.
80 (b) A health insurance carrier may not exclude coverage for laser hair removal,
81electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when these procedures are prescribed
82as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.
83 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 202 Official
84Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 33 the following new section:-
85 Section 34. Any individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage
86for gender-affirming hair removal procedures including, but not limited to, laser hair removal
87and electrolysis hair removal prescribed as medical treatment in accordance with accepted
88standards of care to affirm the gender identity, as defined in section 7 of chapter 4, of two-spirit,
89transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or other gender diverse individuals. Coverage shall be subject
90to a statement from a treating provider that the procedure is necessary for treatment related to an
91individual’s gender identity. The benefits in this section shall not be subject to any greater
92deductible, coinsurance, copayments or out-of-pocket limits than any other benefit provided by
93the insurer.
94 (b) A health insurance carrier may not exclude coverage for laser hair removal,
95electrolysis, or other hair removal procedures as cosmetic when these procedures are prescribed
96as medical treatment related to an individual’s gender identity.