An Act ensuring equal access to medical treatments essential for people with a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or autism
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 6/17/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026 |
| 3/19/2026 | House | Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026 |
| 9/15/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 6/24/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 07/01/2025 from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Health Care Financing |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| S871 | An Act ensuring equal access to medical treatments essential for people with a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or autism | Active |
Chapter 118E of General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:-
The Division shall cover the cost of habilitative and rehabilitative medically necessary treatments for individuals aged 21 and older who are receiving coverage under this chapter and who have been diagnosed with any of the following disorders as defined in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): developmental disability, an intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorder. The diagnoses must be made by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary. Treatments shall include, but shall not be limited to, applied behavior analysis provided or supervised by a licensed behavior analyst that is necessary to develop, maintain or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual. In addition, the Division shall cover the cost of both dedicated and non-dedicated augmentative and alternative communication devices, including, but not limited to, medically necessary tablets.
Chapter 118E of General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:- Section 63. The Division shall cover the cost of habilitative and rehabilitative medically necessary treatments for individuals aged 21 and older who are receiving coverage under this chapter and who have been diagnosed with any of the following disorders as defined in the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM): developmental disability, an intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorder. The diagnoses must be made by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist who determines the care to be medically necessary. Treatments shall include, but shall not be limited to, applied behavior analysis provided or supervised by a licensed behavior analyst that is necessary to develop, maintain or restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual. In addition, the Division shall cover the cost of both dedicated and non-dedicated augmentative and alternative communication devices, including, but not limited to, medically necessary tablets.