By Mr. Kafka of Stoughton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4283) of Louis L. Kafka that health insurance policies be required to provide coverage for the treatment of children with cleft lips and palates. Financial Services.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Louis L. Kafka

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act Relative to the treatment of cleft palate and cleft lip.

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

SECTION 1.  Chapter 176A section 8B(1)

                Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a health insurance policy that covers a child under the age of 18 must provide coverage for treatment of cleft lip and cleft palate for the child.  The coverage must include benefits for medical, dental, oral and facial surgery, surgical management and follow-up care by oral and plastic surgeons, orthodontic treatment and management, preventative and restorative dentistry to insure good health and adequate dental structures for orthodontic treatment or prosthetic management therapy, speech therapy, audiology, and nutrition services, only if such services are prescribed by the treating physician or surgeon and such physician or surgeon certifies that such services are medically necessary and consequent to the treatment of the cleft lip or palate.  The coverage required by this section is subject to the terms and conditions applicable to other benefits.  Payment for dental or orthodontic treatment not related to the management of the congenital condition of cleft lip and cleft palate shall not be covered under this provision.