An Act to strengthen the control of contagious and infectious diseases in the Commonwealth

HD 2178 allows the commissioner to designate contagious or infectious diseases of heightened public health importance. Once designated, health insurance plans, Medicaid programs, and other covered health plans must provide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services without cost sharing (like copays or deductibles) or prior authorization. The requirement applies broadly to group health insurance, individual policies, and medical assistance programs, with limited exceptions for tax-exempt plans that would lose status under federal law. The commissioner must maintain a public list of designated diseases and review it annually to renew or remove designations.