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