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Bill > H4339

MA H4339

MA H4339
Relative to patient access to biomarker testing to provide appropriate therapy

summary

Introduced
07/31/2025
In Committee
12/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

194th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to patient access to biomarker testing to provide appropriate therapy

AI Summary

This bill requires various state health insurance entities, including the Group Insurance Commission, Medicaid, and private health insurers in Massachusetts, to provide coverage for biomarker testing under specific circumstances. Biomarker testing is defined as the analysis of a patient's tissue, blood, or other biospecimen to identify characteristics like gene mutations or protein expressions that can indicate biological processes or potential responses to medical treatments. The bill mandates that biomarker testing must be covered for diagnosing, treating, managing, or monitoring a patient's condition when the test is supported by medical evidence, such as FDA-approved test indications, drug warnings, Medicare coverage determinations, or nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines. The legislation also requires insurance carriers to process prior authorization requests quickly, approving or denying them within 72 hours (or 24 hours in urgent cases), and to provide a clear, accessible process for patients and doctors to request exceptions to coverage policies. By establishing these requirements across multiple chapters of Massachusetts law, the bill aims to improve patient access to advanced diagnostic and personalized medical testing that can help healthcare providers make more targeted treatment decisions.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (61)

Jim Arciero (D),  James Arena-Derosa (D),  Christine Barber (D),  Natalie Blais (D),  Michael Brady (D),  Dan Cahill (D),  Mike Connolly (D),  Rob Consalvo (D),  Mark Cusack (D),  Marjorie Decker (D),  Mindy Domb (D),  Kate Donaghue (D),  Paul Donato (D),  Rodney Elliott (D),  Ryan Fattman (R),  Kim Ferguson (R),  Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),  Carole Fiola (D),  Paul Frost (R),  Sean Garballey (D),  Jessica Giannino (D),  Rich Haggerty (D),  Natalie Higgins (D),  Kevin Honan (D),  Tara Hong (D),  Vanna Howard (D),  Steven Howitt (R),  Brad Jones (R),  Hannah Kane (R),  Kristin Kassner (D),  Meghan Kilcoyne (D),  Mike Kushmerek (D),  Kathy LaNatra (D),  David Linsky (D),  Billy MacGregor (D),  Adrian Madaro (D),  Paul McMurtry (D),  Sam Montaño (D),  John Moran (D),  Brian Murray (D),  Tram Nguyen (D),  Patrick O'Connor (R),  Jake Oliveira (D),  Steve Owens (D),  Ted Philips (D),  Angelo Puppolo (D),  Adrianne Ramos (D),  Sean Reid (D),  Lindsay Sabadosa (D),  Amy Sangiolo (D),  Margaret Scarsdale (D),  Gregory Schwartz (D),  Dan Sena (D),  Tom Stanley (D),  Bruce Tarr (R),  Joshua Tarsky (D),  Jeff Turco (D),  Steve Ultrino (D),  Erika Uyterhoeven (D),  Marcus Vaughn (R),  Richard Wells (D), 

Other Sponsors (1)

Joint Committee on Financial Services (Joint)

Last Action

Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (on 12/04/2025)
(1 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4339
BillText https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4339.pdf
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