This bill (HD 428) requires all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Massachusetts to cover "excess skin removal surgical procedures." It directly affects:
1) Active and retired Commonwealth employees (via Chapter 32A amendments),
2) All health insurance policies in Massachusetts (across Chapters 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G).
Key provisions mandate that insurance plans must provide this coverage without additional restrictions, applying to both individual and group plans. The bill does not define "excess skin removal" but requires coverage for the specified surgical procedures in all applicable policies.
HD 538 requires health insurers in Massachusetts to cover routine outpatient medical visits (like check-ups and consultations) without deductibles as part of basic health insurance plans. This applies to all standard insurance plans offered by insurers or third parties, with an exception for tax-exempt plans that would lose federal tax status if deductibles were banned. The law mandates that coverage must follow guidelines developed by the state’s Division of Insurance. It directly affects health insurance companies and policyholders by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for these specific services. The bill does not change existing deductible requirements for other types of medical care.
This bill requires health insurers to reimburse licensed athletic trainers (with a physician referral) for covered services within their scope of practice, on the same basis as other providers. It ensures athletic trainers cannot be denied coverage for services that the insurer already covers for other healthcare professionals. Insurers may still apply standard cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) and utilization reviews, but these cannot be more restrictive for athletic trainer services than for comparable services from other providers. The law directly affects health insurers and licensed athletic trainers, expanding patient access to athletic training services without altering coverage for specific medical conditions or limited benefit plans.
This bill requires health insurance policies in Massachusetts to cover medically necessary tattoos when a physician deems them necessary. It defines "medical tattoo" as one used for skin restoration, concealing surface defects, or marking treatment sites. Insurance plans must provide this coverage, with the insurance commissioner tasked to create implementing regulations. The law directly affects patients needing such tattoos for medical reasons and all health insurance providers operating in the state.
HD 1063 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to approve non-emergency medical transportation for specific care (dialysis, behavioral health, and post-acute services) with a minimum 3-business-day authorization period. It also mandates that insurers pay providers at least 2.5 times standard rates for these services, including wheelchair van transport. The bill directly affects patients needing these medical trips and ambulance/wheelchair service providers who receive reimbursement. Additionally, it directs the health policy commission to study reimbursement rates for non-emergency transport, including workforce impacts.
HD 1016 requires all health insurance policies issued in Massachusetts to cover dependent individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), regardless of age. This applies to group health plans, hospital service agreements, medical service agreements, and health maintenance contracts delivered in the state. The bill amends insurance laws to explicitly include ASD as a qualifying condition for dependent coverage, removing age limits that previously restricted coverage for autistic children. It directly affects families with autistic dependents who rely on employer or individual health insurance policies in Massachusetts.
HD 1201 requires health insurers to cover unpaid patient deductibles and copays, shifting responsibility from healthcare providers to the insurers. This directly affects insurers, healthcare providers (like hospitals and clinics), and policyholders who cannot pay these costs. Under the bill, insurers must reimburse providers for these unpaid amounts, overriding current rules that often left providers absorbing the cost. The Division of Insurance will create rules to implement and enforce this requirement.
This bill requires health insurance companies in Massachusetts to clearly display key plan details on enrollment cards. Specifically, insurers must list whether a plan is fully insured, the carrier and plan name, member service phone numbers, copay amounts for common services, deductible details, and any other required insurance commissioner information. These disclosures directly affect consumers by making essential coverage terms more visible at sign-up. The law aims to improve transparency about costs and plan features without altering insurance benefits or regulations.
This bill allows self-employed individuals to deduct their health insurance costs from their taxable income. It specifically permits self-employed people (as defined by federal tax law) to subtract payments for health insurance covering themselves, their spouse, and dependents. The change modifies existing tax rules to create a new deduction for these insurance expenses. This directly affects self-employed workers by potentially lowering their federal tax burden.
This bill (HD 1974) requires health insurers and health plans in Massachusetts to cover medical, behavioral, and health care services delivered through approved mobile integrated health programs **the same as services provided in a physical health facility**. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage, reducing payments, or imposing higher deductibles/copayments solely because care was delivered via these mobile programs. The law directly affects **health care providers participating in approved mobile health programs**, **insurers**, and **patients** using these services. Additionally, it eliminates application fees for mobile integrated health programs focused on behavioral health (Section 2).
