Bill > H913

This bill proposes to amend Massachusetts General Laws by adding a new section that would require health benefit plans to provide full insurance coverage, including any applicable co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits, for a "Technology-Assisted Tracking Device" for individuals diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), if they or their guardian choose to obtain one. A "Technology-Assisted Tracking Device" is defined as a wearable device that is waterproof (meeting IP66 and IP68 standards), capable of working indoors or under cover without needing a direct line of sight to the sky (unlike GPS), and not reliant on public communication networks like cellular service, which may not be universally available. The device must also have a tamper-resistant strap that can be changed by a caregiver, and its system should be designed to prevent false alarms and include a patient-specific code to avoid mistaken identities, thereby protecting the safety of these vulnerable individuals.