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Bill > H871

MA H871

MA H871
To protect access to confidential healthcare

summary

Introduced
01/20/2015
In Committee
01/20/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016

Introduced Session

189th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to common summary of payments forms for health care services. Financial Services.

AI Summary

This bill aims to protect access to confidential healthcare by requiring health insurance carriers to develop and use a common "summary of payments" form for healthcare services, which will be provided to consumers in an easy-to-understand format detailing their financial responsibility for provider claims. Importantly, these forms will not identify descriptions for sensitive health care services, such as reproductive health or mental health services, and carriers will be required to consult with experts to define what constitutes a sensitive service. Individuals, or those legally authorized to consent to care for them, will have the right to choose how they receive these summaries, including by mail to a preferred address or electronically, and can also request that these forms be suppressed entirely if their disclosure could endanger them or limit future access to care, without needing to explain their reasoning unless legally required. The bill also mandates that carriers educate insureds about their right to suppress these forms and requires the state division to develop regulations and educational plans to ensure compliance and protect patient confidentiality.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (61)

Kate Hogan (D)*,  Karen Spilka (D)*,  Brian Ashe (D),  Cory Atkins (D),  Ruth Balser (D),  Christine Barber (D),  Jennifer Benson (D),  Paul Brodeur (D),  James Cantwell (D),  Gailanne Cariddi (D),  Brendan Crighton (D),  Josh Cutler (D),  Michael Day (D),  Marjorie Decker (D),  Diana Dizoglio (D),  Dan Donahue (D),  Michelle DuBois (D),  Carolyn Dykema (D),  Lori Ehrlich (D),  Jamie Eldridge (D),  Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),  Linda Forry (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Denise Garlick (D),  Carmine Gentile (D),  Carlos González (D),  Ken Gordon (D),  Danielle Gregoire (D),  Pat Haddad (D),  Jonathan Hecht (D),  Paul Heroux (D),  Kevin Honan (D),  Louis Kafka (D),  Jay Kaufman (D),  Mary Keefe (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Peter Kocot (D),  Stephen Kulik (D),  John Lawn (D),  Jason Lewis (D),  David Linsky (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Brian Mannal (D),  Paul Mark (D),  Joe McGonagle (D),  Paul McMurtry (D),  Harold Naughton (D),  Sarah Peake (D),  Alice Peisch (D),  Smitty Pignatelli (D),  Denise Provost (D),  Dave Rogers (D),  Danny Ryan (D),  Tom Sannicandro (D),  John Scibak (D),  Frank Smizik (D),  Tom Stanley (D),  Ellen Story (D),  José Tosado (D),  Steve Ultrino (D),  Chris Walsh (D), 

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see H3920 (on 12/23/2015)
(1 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H871
Bill https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H871.pdf
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