An Act relative to unilateral contract changes

This bill restricts health insurance plans in Massachusetts from contracting with healthcare providers if those contracts allow for termination without cause or permit the insurer to make unilateral changes to key terms like payment rates and covered services. Instead of allowing such one-sided modifications, the law requires that any changes to material contract terms must only take effect after the current contract period ends and must be communicated in writing to the provider at least 90 days in advance. Additionally, the bill mandates that insurers provide a written explanation to providers whenever they are involuntarily removed from a network. These rules apply to contracts managed by the Division of Insurance, private carriers, and policies purchased by the state commission, while still allowing both parties to mutually agree to amend their contracts.