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Mass. General Laws c.176A

Non-profit hospital service corporations

This page links to an unofficial version of each section of G.L. c. 176A. Please note that sections that appear missing have been either reserved for future use or repealed.

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§ 1 Corporations governed by chapter; services received in nonparticipating hospital; substitution of benefits in nursing homes 

Amended by St.2022, c.144, § 74, effective March 1, 2023

§ 1A Right to become subscriber; open enrollment periods 
§ 1B Medicare supplemental group coverage; medical assistance recipients 
§ 1C Retroactive premium rate increase 
§ 1D Contracts of reinsurance 
§ 2 Incorporators; directors; certificate of organization; commissioner's examination report 
§ 3 Certificate of compliance; examination by commissioner 
§ 3A Discrimination against abuse victims in terms of hospital service plans 
§ 3B Medical service plans; genetic tests; discrimination based on genetic information 
§ 4 Accounting system; accountant, claim manager, underwriter and actuary 
§ 5 Joint administration with certain corporations 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 343, § 73, effective April 8, 2025

§ 6 Approval of nongroup contracts 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 343, § 74, effective April 8, 2025

§ 7 Information gathering authority of commissioner; confidentiality and privilege 
§ 8 Conditions to issuance or delivery of contract 
§ 8 1/2 Sale of group non-profit hospital service contracts 
§ 8A Mental illness expenses; inclusion in contracts as benefits; biologically-based mental disorders; rape-related mental disorders; non-biologically-based mental disorders for children and adolescents under age 19 

Amended by St.2022, c.177, § 54, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8A 3/4 Retroactive claims denials for behavioral health services 
§ 8B Dependent coverage for newborn infants or adoptive children; inclusion in contracts 
§ 8C Refusal to contract with blind or deaf persons; prohibition 
§ 8D Limited extension of benefits 
§ 8E Diethylstilbestrol exposure; discrimination 
§ 8F Divorced or separated spouses; continuation of eligibility for benefits 
§ 8G Cardiac rehabilitation expense benefits 
§ 8H Prenatal, childbirth and postpartum care benefits; minimum coverage for in-patient care 

Amended by St.2022, c. 127, §§ 24-26, effective July 29, 2022

§ 8I Home care benefits 
§ 8J Minimum requirements for cytologic screening and mammographic examination expense benefits 
§ 8K Infertility diagnosis and treatment benefits 
§ 8L Nonprescription enteral formulas for home use 
§ 8M Standardized claim form 
§ 8N Off-label drug use; cancer 
§ 8O Hospital service plan benefits for bone marrow transplants 
§ 8P Items medically necessary for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes 
§ 8Q HIV/AIDS treatment; off-label prescription drug coverage 
§ 8R Coverage of hospice services for terminally ill patients 
§ 8S Nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner services 
§ 8T Scalp hair prostheses necessary due to cancer or leukemia treatment 
§ 8U Emergency services provided to insureds for emergency medical conditions 
§ 8V Coverage for human leukocyte or histocompatibility locus antigen testing 
§ 8W Outpatient services; hormone replacement therapy for peri and post menopausal women; contraceptive services; approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices; exception 
§ 8X Coverage for patient care services under qualified clinical trials 
§ 8Y Diagnosis and treatment of speech, hearing and language disorders 
§ 8AA Coverage of prosthetic devices and repairs 
§ 8BB Coverage for eligible dependents under 26 years of age 

Amended by St.2022, c.177, § 53, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8CC Coverage for medically necessary hypodermic syringes or needles 
§ 8DD Coverage for diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder 
§ 8DD 1/2 Coverage for the treatment of Down syndrome 

Added by St. 2024, c. 388, § 4, effective January 1, 2026

§ 8EE Coverage for children under age 18 for cleft lip and cleft palate 
§ 8FF Coverage for orally administered anticancer medications 
§ 8GG Coverage for abuse deterrent opioid drug products 
§ 8HH Preauthorization for substance abuse treatment not to be required 
§ 8II Coverage for medically necessary acute treatment or clinical stabilization services 
§ 8JJ Coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy for patients with Lyme disease 
§ 8KK Coverage for medical or drug treatments to correct or repair disturbances of body composition caused by HIV associated lipodystrophy syndrome 
§ 8LL Filling of remaining portion of prescription for covered drug that is a narcotic substance earlier filled in lesser quantity 
§ 8MM Pain management access plans 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 285, § 24, applicable to all contracts entered into, renewed or amended on or after July 1, 2025

§ 8NN Coverage for tobacco use cessation counseling and tobacco cessation products 
§ 8OO Coverage for treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome 
§ 8QQ Coverage for prescription eye drops 
§ 8RR Coverage for mental health or substance use disorder services delivered through the psychiatric collaborative care model 

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 55, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8SS Coverage for medically necessary mental health acute treatment, community-based acute treatment and intensive community-based acute treatment 

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 55, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8TT Benefits for medically necessary emergency services programs 

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 55, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8UU Coverage for annual mental health wellness examination 

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 55, effective November 8, 2022

§ 8VV Coverage for federally-defined preventive services 

Added by St.2023, c.28, § 58, effective July 1, 2023.

§ 8WW Coverage for standard fertility preservation services when enrollee has a diagnosed condition that impairs fertility 

Added by St. 2024, c. 140, § 148, effective July 1, 2024

§ 8XX Coverage for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder screenings 

Added by St. 2024, c. 186, § 45, effective November 21, 2024

§ 8YY Coverage for the provision of medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk and milk-derived products 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 248, § 20, effective December 4, 2024

§ 8ZZ Coverage for universal postpartum home visiting services 

Added by St. 2024, c. 186, § 45, effective November 21, 2024

§ 8AAA Coverage for medically necessary breast screenings and examinations 

Added by St. 2024, c. 231, § 4, and shall apply to all contracts entered into, renewed or amended on or after January 1, 2026.

§ 8BBB Coverage for prescribed, ordered or dispensed opioid antagonists 

Added by St. 2024, c. 285, § 25, applicable to all contracts entered into, renewed or amended on or after July 1, 2025

§ 8CCC Coverage for licensed recovery coach services 

Added by St. 2024, c. 285, § 25, applicable to all contracts entered into, renewed or amended on or after January 1, 2026

§ 8DDD Coverage for brand name and generic drugs for the purpose of treating diabetes, asthma, and 2 prevalent heart conditions 

Added by St. 2024, c. 342, § 33, applicable to all contracts entered into, renewed or amended on or after July 1, 2025.

§ 10 Group hospital service plan; approval or disapproval of contracts and rates; filing 

Amended by St. 2024, c. 343, § 75, effective April 8, 2025

§ 10A Preferred provider arrangements 
§ 11 Officers; duties 
§ 12 Publication of assets and liabilities 
§ 13 Hospitalization and medical service for officers and employees of corporation 
§ 14 Misrepresentation of terms of subscriber's contract 
§ 14B Disclosure of information; mental or nervous conditions; exceptions 
§ 15 Costs of solicitation of subscribers and administration 
§ 16 Acquisition of real estate; leases; tax exemption; limit; approval of investments, sales, loans and places of deposit 
§ 17 Submission of disputes and controversies 
§ 18 Annual statement of condition; verification, filing, form, violations; applicability of chapter 176V 
§ 18A Financial statements; inclusion of electronic data processing equipment as asset 
§ 19 Tax exemption 
§ 20 Filing of amendment of by-laws 
§ 21 Submission of advertising matter to commissioner 
§ 22 Filing of riders, endorsements and applications with commissioner 
§ 23 Grounds for enjoining transaction of business; rehabilitation proceedings; duties of receiver; distribution of assets 
§ 24 Special contingent reserve fund 
§ 25 Licensing of agents 
§ 26 Salaries, compensation or emoluments paid by corporation 
§ 27 Payroll deductions for governmental employees 
§ 28 Violations; penalties 
§ 29 Application 
§ 30 Savings clause 
§ 31 Contracts for administrative or other services; loans and investments 
§ 32 Payment of sums owed to subscriber's estate 
§ 33 Insolvency of health maintenance organization; replacement coverage 
§ 34 Report of individuals provided with creditable coverage 
§ 36 Attribution of members to a primary care provider 
§ 37 Disclosure of patient-level data and contracted prices of individual health care services by carriers to providers 
§ 38 Coverage for health care services delivered via telehealth by a contracted health care provider 

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