KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H1170 • 2025

An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients

An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Colleen M. Garry
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5048
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients

An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1170) of Colleen M.
  • Garry relative to providing coverage for physical therapy preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance, and acute treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients.
  • Financial Services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5048

  2. 2025-06-16 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/24/2025 from 10:30 AM-02:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Financial Services

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to access to care for Ehler Danlos syndrome patients
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1170) of Colleen M. Garry relative to providing coverage for physical therapy preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance, and acute treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients. Financial Services.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.1170

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17O, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 17P. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for physical therapy preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance, and acute treatment for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients.

SECTION 2.

Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47II, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 47JJ. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides medical expense coverage shall provide for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or response to therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

SECTION 3.

Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 8LL. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results or response to therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4KK, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 4LL. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued, or renewed within the Commonwealth shall provide coverage for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results and

response in therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4CC, as inserted by chapter 233 of the acts 2016, the following section:-

Section 4DD. Any individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for preventative, ongoing chronic maintenance and acute treatment physical therapy for Ehler Danlos Syndrome patients when determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a physician after making a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, diagnostic test results and

response in therapy. Therapy otherwise eligible for benefits pursuant to this section shall not be denied solely because such therapy may be characterized as unproven, experimental, or investigational in nature.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close