Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1290 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 799 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1290
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
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 relative to dental insurance coverage of periodontal treatments.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/13/2025Bud L. Williams11th Hampden2/5/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 799 FILED ON: 1/13/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1290
18	18	By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1290) of
19	19	Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and Bud L. Williams relative to dental insurance coverage of periodontal
20	20	treatments. Financial Services.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act relative to dental insurance coverage of periodontal treatments.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
30	30	2following section:-
31	31	3 Section 35. Any dental benefits plan, as defined in section 1 of chapter 176X, offered by
32	32	4the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group
33	33	5insurance commission shall provide coverage for the following periodontal treatments as defined
34	34	6in section 5 of said chapter 176X: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction
35	35	7therapy.
36	36	8 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
37	37	9following section:-
38	38	10 Section 85. The division and any of its contracted insurers who provides dental benefit
39	39	11plans, as defined in section 1 of chapter 176X, shall provide coverage for the following 2 of 2
40	40	12periodontal treatments as defined in section 5 of said chapter 176X: (i) oral cancer screenings
41	41	13and (ii) laser bacterial reduction therapy.
42	42	14 SECTION 3. Section 2 of chapter 176X, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is
43	43	15hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
44	44	16 (h) The commissioner may only approve carriers offering dental benefit plans, including
45	45	17carriers licensed under chapters 175, 176B, 176E, 176G or 176I, that include coverage for the
46	46	18following periodontal treatments as defined in section 5: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser
47	47	19bacterial reduction therapy.
48	48	20 SECTION 4. Said chapter 176X is hereby further amended by adding the following
49	49	21section:-
50	50	22 Section 5. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the
51	51	23context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
52	52	24 “Laser bacterial reduction therapy”, a procedure using laser technology to reduce harmful
53	53	25bacteria and prevent the spread of disease in the mouth.
54	54	26 “Oral cancer screenings”, an examination performed by a dentist or doctor to look for
55	55	27signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in the mouth.
56	56	28 (b) Any dental benefit plan within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for the
57	57	29following periodontal treatments: (i) oral cancer screenings and (ii) laser bacterial reduction
58	58	30therapy.