Bill > S824

This bill mandates that various health insurance providers in Massachusetts—including state employee group insurance, Medicaid, individual and group health insurance plans, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, and health maintenance organizations—must provide comprehensive coverage for pain management during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion procedures without any additional out-of-pocket costs for patients. Specifically, the bill requires insurers to cover pain control methods such as intravenous sedation, oral sedation, nitrous oxide, local anesthesia, and topical anesthesia when prescribed by a healthcare provider within their professional scope of practice. The coverage must be provided for the primary enrollee, their spouse, and dependents, and cannot involve unreasonable restrictions or delays. The bill allows for reasonable medical management techniques within FDA-defined method categories but prohibits restrictions across different types of methods. Notably, the bill includes an exemption for church-affiliated employers who can opt out of the coverage, with the requirement that they provide written notice to prospective enrollees about which services they are not covering. The provisions of this bill will take effect for all relevant insurance policies delivered, issued, or renewed on or after September 1, 2026, ensuring that patients have access to pain management options during what can be a uncomfortable medical procedure.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S824