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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 247 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 669
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joan B. Lovely
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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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Joan B. LovelySecond EssexMichael J. BarrettThird Middlesex1/27/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 247 FILED ON: 1/12/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 669
By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 669) of Joan B. Lovely and Michael
J. Barrett for legislation to require mental health parity for disability policies. Financial Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 703 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 requiring mental health parity for disability policies.
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. Section 108 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2adding the following:-
3 13. No individual policy of short-term or long-term disability insurance providing income
4replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth shall impose benefit
5limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health disorders, where such
6limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected by physical disorders.
7 SECTION 2. Section 110 of chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
8adding the following subsection:-
9 (Q) No certificate of coverage under a group policy of short-term or long-term disability
10insurance providing income replacement benefits that is issued or renewed in the Commonwealth 2 of 2
11shall impose benefit limitations or exclusions upon claimants affected by behavioral health
12disorders, where such limitations or exclusions are not imposed equally upon claimants affected
13by physical disorders.
14 SECTION 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit periodic medical exams or
15other procedures reasonably calculated to determine whether a disability exists or continues to
16exist; provided said examinations, procedures or protocols are comparable and no more frequent
17or onerous than those required for disabilities caused by physical disorders.