Bill > S596

This bill aims to improve access to trans-inclusive health care in Massachusetts. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It prohibits the state's Group Insurance Commission, MassHealth, and various private insurance providers from rejecting a letter from a healthcare provider, including a qualified mental health professional, affirming the medical necessity of gender-affirming care for the purposes of accessing such care. 2. It also limits the insurers and providers to requiring no more than one such letter per person seeking gender-affirming care. 3. The bill defines a "qualified mental health care professional" as one who meets the minimum credentials, training, and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults and adolescents, as developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. The overall intent of the bill is to streamline the process for transgender individuals to access necessary and medically appropriate gender-affirming healthcare services by limiting the documentation requirements imposed by insurers and state health programs.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S596