An Act relative to direct primary care, the official text

	SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:- 
	“Section 35. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 2. Chapter 32B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- 
	“Section 30. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 3. Section 9 of chapter 94C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking the following words in lines 31-32 of paragraph (b):- “in a single dose or in a quantity” and; 
	By striking in line 35 the words, “essential for the treatment of a patient” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “which is for a legitimate medical purpose by a practitioner acting in the usual course of his professional practice.” and; 
	By striking in lines 35-39 the words:- “The amount or quantity of any controlled substance dispensed under this subsection shall not exceed the quantity of a controlled substance necessary for the immediate and proper treatment of the patient until it is possible for the patient to have a prescription filled by a pharmacy.”; and 
	By striking in lines 91-93 of paragraph (e) the words:- “and shall be except from the requirement that such dispensing be in a single dose or as necessary for immediate and proper treatment under subsection (b).” 
	SECTION 4. Section 19 of said chapter 94C, as so appearing, shall be amended by inserting in line 6 of paragraph (a) after the word “prescription”, the following words:- “or practitioner who dispenses the controlled substance.” 
	SECTION 5. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 13C the following new section:- 
	“Section 13C½. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 6. Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47QQ the following section: 
	“Section 47QQ1/2. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 7. Chapter 176A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- 
	“Section 39. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 8. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- 
	“Section 26. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 9. Chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:- 
	“Section 34. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 10. Chapter 176I of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
	“Section 14. A carrier may not deny payment for any health care service covered under an enrollee’s health plan based solely on the basis that the enrollee’s referral was made by a provider who is not a member of the carrier’s provider network.” 
	SECTION 11. Section’s 1-2 and 5-10 of this Act shall be effective for all contracts which are entered into, renewed, or amended one year after its effective date.