Bill > S714

This bill strengthens disease control measures in Massachusetts by empowering the state health commissioner to designate contagious and infectious diseases of heightened public health importance, and mandating that all health insurance plans—including state employee, Medicaid, individual, group, and preferred provider plans—provide full coverage for healthcare services related to those diseases without cost-sharing (such as co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance) or utilization review (like prior authorization or step therapy). The commissioner must publicly maintain and annually review a list of designated diseases, provide written notice to relevant state agencies and healthcare entities when diseases are added or removed from the list, and take steps to notify healthcare providers and the public about these requirements. Importantly, the bill requires these coverage requirements to take effect 30 days after a disease is designated, with a small caveat that certain tax-exempt plans may still require co-pays if eliminating them would jeopardize their tax status. The goal appears to be ensuring that people can access preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services for critical infectious diseases without financial barriers.

Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S714