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H4553 • 2025

An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor

An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor

Active

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

Sponsor
Financial Services (J)
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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 requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor

An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

What This Bill Does

  • An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

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. 2026-04-15 House

    Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

  2. 2026-03-19 House

    Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026

  3. 2025-12-08 House

    Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026

  4. 2025-09-29 House

    Reported from the committee on Financial Services

  5. 2025-09-29 House

    New draft of H1258

  6. 2025-09-29 House

    Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing

Official Summary Text

An Act requiring coverage of medically necessary oral and dental care for head and neck cancer survivor
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.4553

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17Z the following section:-

Section 17AA. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer

treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10Z the following section:-

Section 10AA. The division shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to

approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 3. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting before section 47CCC the following section:-

Section 47AAA. Any blanket or general policy of insurance described in subdivision (A), (C), or (D) of section one hundred and ten which is issued or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder, within or without the commonwealth, during the period within which this premium is effective, or any policy of accident or sickness insurance as described in section one hundred and eight which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance and which is delivered or issued for delivery or subsequently renewed by agreement between the insurer and the policyholder in the commonwealth, during the period within which this provision is effective, or any employers' health and welfare fund which provides hospital expense and surgical expense benefits and which is issued or renewed to any person or group of persons in the commonwealth, during the period within which this provision is effective, shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8DDD the following section:-

Section 8EEE. A contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4DDD the following section:-

Section 4EEE. A subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

SECTION 6. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4VV the following section:-

Section 4WW. An individual or group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage for:

(a) necessary pre-cancer dental care, including preventative and restorative treatment to the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity, fluoride treatments and trays, and medically necessary dental procedures, to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection or to treat tooth decay or tooth loss in enrollees.

(b) dental care that is required prior to the commencement of treatment for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(c) post cancer necessary dental care, including preventative dental phophylaxis’, scaling and root planing, quarterly cleanings, bi-annual assessments by a periodontist, fluoride treatments including trays, and medically necessary dental procedures to reduce or eliminate the risk of infection; or to treat tooth loss or decay directly or indirectly caused by head and neck cancer treatment.

(d) dental procedures required as a result of treatments for head and neck cancer including, but not limited to, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy, proton therapy, and radiation therapy.

(e) laboratory assessments, medications, treatments, evaluations, examinations, and rehabilitation necessary for head and neck cancer treatment and the restoration of function.

(f) patient education, medical devices, prostheses, obturators, dental implants, rehabilitative services necessary to restore, maintain, or improve, the whole or partial function related to eating, breathing, voice, speech, quality of life, social functioning and swallowing; and to approximate the normal appearance of any abnormal structures that is affected by a head and neck cancer diagnosis and/or the treatment of head and neck cancer, or the side effects resulting from the treatment.

(g) restorative and rehabilitative care including but not limited to: medications, restoration procedures, and other medical interventions required to address impairments resulting from head and neck cancer or its treatment.

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.

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