1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1500 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1188
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Higgins and Christine P. Barber
_________________
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 trans-inclusive health care access.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/15/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/15/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/16/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/28/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/29/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/29/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/5/2025James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/8/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/4/2025Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex3/7/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1500 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1188
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 1188) of Natalie M. Higgins, Christine P. Barber and others relative to
healthcare coverage for certain gender affirming care. Financial Services.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access.
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 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17S the following section:-
3 Section 17T. The commission shall not reject a written verification or certification from a
4health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for
5accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not
6satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall the commission
7require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the
8treatment of gender dysphoria,.
9 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
10unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
11minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
12and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 2 of 4
13 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
14Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 10Q the following section:-
15 Section 10R. The division shall not reject a written verification or certification from a
16health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for
17accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not
18satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall the division require
19more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the treatment of
20gender dysphoria.
21 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
22unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
23minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
24and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
25 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
26section 47UU the following section:-
27 Section 47VV. No insurer or producer authorized to issue policies of insurance pursuant
28to sections 108 or 110 shall reject a written verification or certification from a health care
29provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for accessing
30gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not satisfy
31minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall any insurer or producer
32require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the
33treatment of gender dysphoria. 3 of 4
34 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
35unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
36minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
37and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
38 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
39section 8VV the following section:-
40 Section 8WW. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a written verification or
41certification from a health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health
42care professional, for accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or
43certification clearly does not satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines,
44nor shall the corporation require more than one written verification or certification that the care
45is required for the treatment of gender dysphoria.
46 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
47unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
48minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
49and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
50 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
51Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4VV the following section:-
52 Section 4WW. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a written verification or
53certification from a health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health
54care professional, for accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or
55certification clearly does not satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, 4 of 4
56nor shall the corporation require more than one written verification or certification that the care
57is required for the treatment of gender dysphoria,.
58 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
59unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
60minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
61and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
62 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
63section 4NN the following section:-
64 Section 4OO. No health maintenance organization subject to this chapter, and no officer
65or agent thereof, shall reject a written verification or certification from a health care provider,
66including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for accessing gender-
67affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not satisfy minimum
68requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall a health maintenance organization
69require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the
70treatment of gender dysphoria,.
71 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall,
72unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the
73minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults
74and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.