PETITION OF:

SECTION 1. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47U, inserted by section 8 of chapter 141 of the acts of 2000, the following section:-

Section 47V. All individual or group accident and health insurance policies and health service contracts delivered, issued or renewed by an insurer or nonprofit health service corporation which provide benefit to individual subscribers and members within the commonwealth or to all group members having a principal place of employment within the commonwealth shall provide benefits to services rendered by a physician assistant certified by the board of registration of physician assistant pursuant to the provisions of section 9F of chapter 112; provided, however, that the following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the scope of practice of physician assistants pursuant to section 9E of said chapter 112; (2) such service is provided in compliance with all other requirements of law, including a formal supervisory arrangement with a physician as provided for by said section 9E (3) the policy or contract provides benefits for such service if rendered by a registered physician in the commonwealth. No such individual or group accident or health insurance policy of health service contract shall deny payment for such services solely on the basis that the service was provided by a physician assistant.

Section 2. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8U, inserted by section 14 of chapter 141 of the acts of 2000, the following section:-

Section 8V. Any contract or subscription certificate between an insured and the corporation shall provide benefits for services rendered by a physician assistant certified by the board of registration of physician assistants pursuant to the provisions of section 9F of chapter 112; provided, however, that the following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the scope of practice of physician assistants pursuant to section 9E of said chapter 112; (2) such service is provided in compliance with all other requirements of law, including a formal supervisory arrangement with a physician as provided for by said section 9E; and (3) the contract or subscription certificate provided benefits for such service if rendered by a registered physician in the commonwealth. No such contract or subscription certificate shall deny payment for such services solely on the basis that the service was provided by a physician assistant.

Section 3. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4U, inserted by section 15 of chapter 141 of the acts of 2000, the following section:-

Section 4V. Any contract or subscription certificate between an insured and the corporation shall provide benefits for services rendered by a physician assistant, certified by the board of registration of physician assistants pursuant to the provisions of section 9F of chapter 112; provided, however, that the following conditions are met: (1) the service rendered is within the scope of practice of physician assistants pursuant to section 9E of said chapter 112; (2) such service is provided in compliance with all other requirements of law, including a formal supervisory arrangement with a physician as provided for b said section 9E; and (3) the contract or subscription certificate provides benefits for such service if rendered by a registered physician in the commonwealth. No such contract of subscription certificate shall deny payment for such services solely on the basis that the service was provided by a physician assistant.

Section 4. The first paragraph of section 4 of chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:-

Such health maintenance contract shall also provide coverage for the services rendered by a certified registered physician assistant, as set forth in section 47V of chapter 175, subject to the provisions of said section.