Text of MA S 681 (2026)

1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1220 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 681 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Joanne M. Comerford _________________ 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 relative to trans-inclusive health care access. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex 2/4/2025 James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 2/10/2025 Julian Cyr Cape and Islands 2/14/2025 Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex 2/19/2025 1 of 5 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1220 FILED ON: 1/15/2025 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 681 By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 681) of Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis, James B. Eldridge, Julian Cyr and others for legislation relative to trans- inclusive health care access. Financial Services. [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION SEE SENATE, NO. 596 OF 2023-2024.] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official 2 Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 17S the following section:- 3 Section 17T. The commission shall not reject a written verification or certification from a 4 health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for 5 accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not 6 satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall the commission 7 require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the 8 treatment of gender dysphoria. 2 of 5 9 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 10 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 11 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 12 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 13 SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official 14 Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 10Q the following section:- 15 Section 10R. The division shall not reject a written verification or certification from a 16 health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for 17 accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not 18 satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall the division require 19 more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the treatment of 20 gender dysphoria. 21 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 22 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 23 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 24 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 25 SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 26 section 47UU the following section:- 27 Section 47VV. No insurer or producer authorized to issue policies of insurance pursuant 28 to sections 108 or 110 shall reject a written verification or certification from a health care 29 provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for accessing 30 gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not satisfy 3 of 5 31 minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall any insurer or producer 32 require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the 33 treatment of gender dysphoria. 34 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 35 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 36 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 37 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 38 SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 39 section 8VV the following section:- 40 Section 8WW. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a written verification or 41 certification from a health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health 42 care professional, for accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or 43 certification clearly does not satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, 44 nor shall the corporation require more than one written verification or certification that the care 45 is required for the treatment of gender dysphoria. 46 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 47 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 48 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 49 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 50 SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official 51 Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4VV the following section:- 4 of 5 52 Section 4WW. No corporation subject to this chapter shall reject a written verification or 53 certification from a health care provider, including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health 54 care professional, for accessing gender-affirming care, unless the written verification or 55 certification clearly does not satisfy minimum requirements under established clinical guidelines, 56 nor shall the corporation require more than one written verification or certification that the care 57 is required for the treatment of gender dysphoria. 58 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 59 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 60 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 61 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. 62 SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after 63 section 4NN the following section:- 64 Section 4OO. No health maintenance organization subject to this chapter, and no officer 65 or agent thereof, shall reject a written verification or certification from a health care provider, 66 including, but not limited to, a qualified mental health care professional, for accessing gender- 67 affirming care, unless the written verification or certification clearly does not satisfy minimum 68 requirements under established clinical guidelines, nor shall a health maintenance organization 69 require more than one written verification or certification that the care is required for the 70 treatment of gender dysphoria. 71 For purposes of this section, the term “qualified mental health care professional” shall, 72 unless the context clearly requires otherwise, mean a mental health professional who meets the 5 of 5 73 minimum credentials, training and standards of care for working with gender dysphoric adults 74 and adolescents developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.