Bill > S521

This bill amends Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 175 to ensure that health insurance plans will reimburse licensed athletic trainers for covered services when they act with a physician's referral and within their authorized scope of practice, provided that the health insurer would also reimburse another healthcare provider for the same services. This applies only to health plans that already cover the type of service or medical condition being treated by the athletic trainer. While these services can be subject to standard cost-sharing measures like deductibles and co-payments, as well as limits and utilization reviews, these provisions must not unfairly discriminate against athletic trainer care and should be no more restrictive than those applied to other healthcare providers under the same policy. The bill clarifies that it does not prevent or impede the provision or coverage of services by licensed athletic trainers within their lawful practice. A "health insurance plan" is broadly defined to include various types of individual and group health insurance policies, service corporation contracts, and health maintenance organization subscriber contracts, but excludes limited benefit plans.