Massachusetts H 1347: An Act relative to Group Health Insurance Commission

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 915 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1347

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bud L. Williams
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to improve sickle cell care.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Bud L. Williams 11th Hampden 1/14/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 915 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1347
By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1347) of
Bud L. Williams relative to sickle cell care. Financial Services.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to improve sickle cell care.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10Q, the
2 following section:
3 Section 10R. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
4 following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
5 “Directly or indirectly cause impairment of fertility”, to cause circumstances where a
6 disease or the necessary treatment for a disease has a likely side effect of infertility as established
7 by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology
8 or other reputable professional organizations.
9 “Standard fertility preservation services”, procedures or treatments to preserve fertility as
10 recommended by a board-certified obstetrician gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist or
11 other physician; provided, however, that the recommendation shall be made in accordance with
12 current medical practices and professional guidelines published by the American Society for

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13 Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Oncology or other reputable
14 professional organizations.
15 (b) The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance
16 organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract
17 to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage
18 for standard fertility preservation services, including, but not limited to, coverage for
19 procurement, cryopreservation and storage of gametes, embryos or other reproductive tissue,
20 when the covered person has a diagnosed medical or genetic condition that may directly or
21 indirectly cause impairment of fertility by affecting reproductive organs or processes. Coverage
22 shall be provided to the same extent that coverage is provided for other pregnancy-related
23 procedures.
24 STATEWIDE SCD STEERING COMMITTEE
25 SECTION 3. (a)(1) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is
26 hereby established a Statewide Steering Committee on Sickle Cell Disease within the department
27 of public health.
28 (2) The Steering Committee under this section shall consist of:
29 (A) two representatives from the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Disease Association
30 including the Executive Director or their designee;
31 (B) three medical professionals from major Sickle Cell Disease treatment centers in the
32 commonwealth who shall be appointed by the commissioner;

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33 (C) the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Health
34 Workers or their designee;
35 (D) the President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social
36 Workers or their designee;
37 (E) two members who shall be appointed by the commissioner, one of whom shall be an
38 expert on the biology of the disease, and one of whom shall be an expert on the psycho-social
39 aspect of the disease;
40 (F) two representatives of the department of elementary and secondary education who
41 shall be appointed by the commissioner, including one of whom is knowledgeable about the right
42 to comparable education, supportive services and accommodations under section 504 of the
43 Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
44 (G) one representative of the Black and Latino Caucus who shall be appointed by the
45 commissioner;
46 (H) one representative of the Asian Caucus who shall be appointed by the commissioner;
47 (I) two sickle cell disease patients who shall be appointed by the Governor, one of which
48 shall be over 25 years in age and the other shall be between 18 and 25 years in age;
49 (J) a parent of a minor child with sickle cell disease who shall be appointed by the
50 Governor;
51 (K) a parent of a secondary or post-secondary school age youth with sickle cell disease
52 who shall be appointed by the commissioner; and

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53 (