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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1352 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 695
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Brendan P. Crighton
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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 promoting consumer choice in health care.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Brendan P. CrightonThird Essex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1352 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 695
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 695) of Brendan P. Crighton for
legislation relative to health insurance coverage by athletic trainers. Financial Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 603 OF 2023-2024.]
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 promoting consumer choice in health care.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the
2following section:-
3 "Section 226. A licensed athletic trainer, acting with a referral from a physician, who acts
4within the scope of practice authorized by law shall not be denied reimbursement by the health
5insurer for those covered services if the health insurer would reimburse another health care
6provider for those services. This Section pertains only to those health plans that provide coverage
7for a particular type of health service, or for any particular medical condition that is within the
8scope of practice of licensed athletic trainers.
9 Services provided by licensed athletic trainers may be subject to reasonable deductibles,
10co-payment and co-insurance amounts, fee or benefit limits, practice parameters, and utilization 2 of 2
11review consistent with applicable rules adopted by the division of insurance; provided that the
12amounts, limits, and review shall not function to direct treatment in a manner unfairly
13discriminative against athletic trainer care, and collectively shall be no more restrictive than
14those applicable under the same policy for care or services provided by other health care
15providers.
16 Nothing in this section shall be construed as impeding or preventing either the provision
17or coverage of health care services by licensed athletic trainers within the lawful scope of athletic
18trainer practice.
19 As used in this section, “health insurance plan” means an individual or group health
20insurance policy, a hospital or medical service corporation or health maintenance organization
21subscriber contract, or another health benefit plan offered, issued, or renewed for a person by a
22health insurer. The term shall not include benefit plans providing coverage for specific disease or
23other limited benefit coverage."