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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2618 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1288
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Edward R. Philips
_________________
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 telehealth parity for nutrition counseling.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk1/16/2025 1 of 6
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2618 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1288
By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1288) of
Edward R. Philips relative to telehealth parity for nutrition counseling. Financial Services.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to telehealth parity for nutrition counseling.
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 30 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as inserted by section 3 of
2chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
3 “Medical nutrition therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
4counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
5as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
6management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
7 SECTION 2. Said section 30 of said chapter 32A of the General Laws, as inserted by
8section 3 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection
9(g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
10 (g) The commission shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network providers of
11behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy delivered via
12interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no less than the rate of 2 of 6
13payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods; provided, that this subsection
14shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and medical nutrition therapy covered as
15required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second sentence of subsection (a) of section 6 of
16chapter 176O.
17 SECTION 3. Section 79 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as inserted by section 40
18of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
19 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
20counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
21as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
22management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
23 SECTION 4. Said section 79 of said chapter 118E of the General Laws, as inserted by
24section 40 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out
25subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
26 (g) The division shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network providers of
27behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy delivered via
28interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no less than the rate of
29payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods; provided, that this subsection
30shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and providers of medical nutrition therapy
31covered as required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second sentence of subsection (a) of
32section 6 of chapter 176O. 3 of 6
33 SECTION 5. Subsection (a) of section 47MM of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as
34inserted by section 47 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the
35following definition:-
36 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
37counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
38as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
39management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
40 SECTION 6. Said section 47MM of said chapter 175 of the General Laws, as inserted by
41section 40 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out
42subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
43 (g) Insurance companies organized under this chapter shall ensure that the rate of
44payment for in-network providers of behavioral health services and in-network providers of
45medical nutrition therapy delivered via interactive audio-video technology and audio-only
46telephone shall be no less than the rate of payment for the same service delivered via in-person
47 methods; provided, that this subsection shall apply to providers of behavioral health
48services and providers of medical nutrition therapy covered as required under subclause (i) of
49clause (4) of the second sentence of subsection (a) of section 6 of chapter 176O.
50 SECTION 7. Section 38 of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as inserted by section 49
51of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
52 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
53counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition 4 of 6
54as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
55management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
56 SECTION 8. Said section 38 of said chapter 176A of the General Laws, as inserted by
57section 40 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out
58subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
59 (g) Hospital service corporations shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network
60providers of behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy
61delivered via interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no less than
62the rate of payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods; provided, that this
63subsection shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and providers of medical
64nutrition therapy covered as required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second sentence of
65subsection (a) of section 6 of chapter 176O.
66 SECTION 9. Section 25 of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as inserted by section 51
67of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
68 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
69counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
70 as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
71management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
72 SECTION 10. Said section 25 of said chapter 176B of the General Laws, as inserted by
73section 40 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out
74subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- 5 of 6
75 (g) Medical service corporations shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network
76providers of behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy
77delivered via interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no less than
78the rate of payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods; provided, that this
79subsection shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and providers of medical
80nutrition therapy covered as required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second sentence of
81subsection (a) of section 6 of chapter 176O.
82 SECTION 11. Section 33 of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as inserted by section 51
83of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
84 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
85counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
86as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
87management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
88 SECTION 12. Said section 33 of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as inserted by
89section 40 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out
90subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
91 (g) Health maintenance organizations shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network
92providers of behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy
93delivered via interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no
94 less than the rate of payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods;
95provided, that this subsection shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and providers 6 of 6
96of medical nutrition therapy covered as required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second
97sentence of subsection (a) of section 6 of chapter 176O.
98 SECTION 13. Section 13 of chapter 176I of the General Laws, as inserted by section 51
99of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by inserting the following definition:-
100 “Medical Nutrition Therapy” the provision of nutrition care services, including nutrition
101counseling, provided by a licensed dietitian/nutritionist within the field of dietetics and nutrition
102as defined in section 201 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, aimed at prevention, delay,
103management, or treatment of a disease or condition.
104 SECTION 14. Said section 13 of chapter 176I of the General Laws, as inserted by section
10540 of chapter 260 of the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (g)
106and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-
107 (g) Organizations shall ensure that the rate of payment for in-network providers of
108behavioral health services and in-network providers of medical nutrition therapy delivered via
109interactive audio-video technology and audio-only telephone shall be no less than the rate of
110payment for the same service delivered via in-person methods; provided, that this subsection
111shall apply to providers of behavioral health services and providers of medical nutrition therapy
112covered as required under subclause (i) of clause (4) of the second sentence of subsection (a) of
113section 6 of chapter 176O.