Bill > H1235

This bill updates the mandated benefit review process for health insurance in Massachusetts by modifying the responsibilities of the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA). The bill requires CHIA to conduct comprehensive reviews of proposed health insurance mandates, examining public health, medical, and financial impacts. When analyzing a mandated health benefit bill, CHIA must prepare a detailed written report covering aspects such as community health effects, medical effectiveness, potential cost increases or savings, impacts on different population groups, and the proposed benefit's alignment with essential health benefits. The center is required to consult with other state agencies and issue a comprehensive report every five years reviewing existing mandated benefits, including a clinical review with the Department of Public Health and University of Massachusetts Medical School to ensure that mandated benefits continue to meet current standards of care and evidence-based medicine. If existing mandates no longer meet these standards, CHIA may propose legislation to amend or repeal them. The bill also establishes timelines for review and provides mechanisms for legislative committees to proceed if CHIA fails to complete its analysis within the specified timeframe, ultimately aiming to create a more systematic and data-driven approach to evaluating health insurance mandates.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1235