Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1258 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1854 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1258
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Paul McMurtry and Michael F. Rush
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 coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer
13	13	survivor.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk1/15/2025David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth2/10/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/25/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/27/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/27/2025Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth3/12/2025 1 of 10
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1854 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1258
19	19	By Representative McMurtry of Dedham and Senator Rush, a joint petition (accompanied by
20	20	bill, House, No. 1258) of Paul McMurtry, David F. DeCoste and others relative to coverage of
21	21	medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivors. Financial Services.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer
28	28	survivor.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2section 17O, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 17P. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of
34	34	4the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for:
35	35	5 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
36	36	6the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
37	37	7dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
38	38	8in enrollees.
39	39	9 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
40	40	10cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
41	41	11therapy, and radiation therapy. 2 of 10
42	42	12 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
43	43	13and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
44	44	14treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
45	45	15risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
46	46	16cancer
47	47	17 treatment.
48	48	18 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
49	49	19including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
50	50	20and radiation therapy
51	51	21 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
52	52	22rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.
53	53	23 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
54	54	24rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
55	55	25related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
56	56	26to
57	57	27 approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head
58	58	28and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects
59	59	29resulting from the treatment.
60	60	30 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
61	61	31restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
62	62	32from head and neck cancer or its treatment. 3 of 10
63	63	33 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
64	64	34section 10J, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
65	65	35 Section 10K. The division shall provide coverage for:
66	66	36 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
67	67	37the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
68	68	38dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
69	69	39in enrollees.
70	70	40 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
71	71	41cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
72	72	42therapy, and radiation therapy.
73	73	43 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
74	74	44and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
75	75	45treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
76	76	46risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
77	77	47cancer treatment.
78	78	48 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
79	79	49including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
80	80	50and radiation therapy.
81	81	51 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
82	82	52rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function. 4 of 10
83	83	53 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
84	84	54rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
85	85	55related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
86	86	56to
87	87	57 approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head
88	88	58and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects
89	89	59resulting from the treatment.
90	90	60 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
91	91	61restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
92	92	62from head and neck cancer or its treatment.
93	93	63 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
94	94	64section 47II, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
95	95	65 Section 47JJ. A policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued,
96	96	66delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides medical expense coverage shall
97	97	67provide coverage for:
98	98	68 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
99	99	69the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
100	100	70dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
101	101	71in enrollees. 5 of 10
102	102	72 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
103	103	73cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
104	104	74therapy, and radiation therapy.
105	105	75 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
106	106	76and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
107	107	77treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
108	108	78risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
109	109	79cancer treatment.
110	110	80 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
111	111	81including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
112	112	82and radiation therapy.
113	113	83 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
114	114	84rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.
115	115	85 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
116	116	86rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
117	117	87related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
118	118	88to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and
119	119	89neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting
120	120	90from the treatment.
121	121	91 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
122	122	92restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
123	123	93from head and neck cancer or its treatment. 6 of 10
124	124	94 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
125	125	95section 8KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
126	126	96 Section 8LL. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or
127	127	97group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall
128	128	98provide coverage for:
129	129	99 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
130	130	100the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
131	131	101dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
132	132	102in enrollees.
133	133	103 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
134	134	104cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
135	135	105therapy, and radiation therapy.
136	136	106 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
137	137	107and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
138	138	108treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
139	139	109risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
140	140	110cancer treatment.
141	141	111 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
142	142	112including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
143	143	113and radiation therapy. 7 of 10
144	144	114 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
145	145	115rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.
146	146	116 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
147	147	117rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
148	148	118related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
149	149	119to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and
150	150	120neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting
151	151	121from the treatment.
152	152	122 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
153	153	123restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
154	154	124from head and neck cancer or its treatment.
155	155	125 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
156	156	126section 4KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
157	157	127 Section 4LL. A subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service
158	158	128agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for:
159	159	129 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
160	160	130the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
161	161	131dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
162	162	132in enrollees. 8 of 10
163	163	133 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
164	164	134cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
165	165	135therapy, and radiation therapy.
166	166	136 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
167	167	137and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
168	168	138treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
169	169	139risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
170	170	140cancer treatment.
171	171	141 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
172	172	142including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
173	173	143and radiation therapy.
174	174	144 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
175	175	145rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.
176	176	146 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
177	177	147rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
178	178	148related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
179	179	149to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and
180	180	150neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting
181	181	151from the treatment.
182	182	152 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
183	183	153restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
184	184	154from head and neck cancer or its treatment. 9 of 10
185	185	155 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
186	186	156section 4CC, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-
187	187	157 Section 4DD. An individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage
188	188	158for:
189	189	159 (a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to
190	190	160the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary
191	191	161dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss
192	192	162in enrollees.
193	193	163 (b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck
194	194	164cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton
195	195	165therapy, and radiation therapy.
196	196	166 (c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling
197	197	167and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride
198	198	168treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the
199	199	169risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck
200	200	170cancer treatment.
201	201	171 (d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer
202	202	172including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy,
203	203	173and radiation therapy.
204	204	174 (e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and
205	205	175rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function. 10 of 10
206	206	176 (f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants,
207	207	177rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function
208	208	178related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and
209	209	179to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and
210	210	180neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting
211	211	181from the treatment.
212	212	182 (g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications,
213	213	183restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting
214	214	184from head and neck cancer or its treatment.