Section 26. The commission shall, subject to appropriation, negotiate with and purchase, on such terms as it deems to be in the best interest of the commonwealth and its employees, from 1 or more entities that can manage a wellness program covering persons in the service of the commonwealth and their dependents, and shall execute all agreements or contracts pertaining to the program. The commission may negotiate a contract for such term not exceeding 5 years as it may, in its discretion, deem to be the most advantageous to the commonwealth; provided, however that the program shall be able to evaluate individual and aggregate data, give employees access to their individual information confidentially and allow the commission to receive collective reports summarizing baseline and ongoing data regarding the behavior and well being of enrollees. The commission may reduce premiums or co-payments or offer other incentives to encourage enrollees to comply with the wellness program goals.
Beginning 1 year after the end of the fiscal year in which the commission has implemented the wellness program, the commission shall submit an annual report to the governor, the secretary of health and human services, the secretary of administration and finance, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, the speaker of the house of representatives and the senate president. The report shall include the collective results including, but not limited to, the level of participation among employees, incentives provided for participation, the number and type of screenings and diagnostic tests conducted, the instance of undiagnosed risks defined as out of range diagnostic tests and number of employees seeking and receiving preventative treatment. The commission shall use this information in the negotiating and purchasing, on such terms as it deems in the best interest of the commonwealth and its employees, from 1 or more insurance companies, savings banks or non-profit hospital or medical service corporations, of a policy or policies of group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance covering persons in the service of the commonwealth and group general or blanket insurance providing hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance benefits covering persons in the service of the commonwealth and their dependents.
Beginning 1 year after the end of the fiscal year in which the commission has implemented the wellness program, the commission shall annually submit a report to the governor, secretary of administration and finance, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, the speaker of the house of representatives and the senate president on the savings that have been achieved in procuring such insurance policies since implementing the wellness program.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions
Section 1 - Purpose of Chapter
Section 3 - Group Insurance Commission
Section 3a - Employees' Advisory Committee
Section 3b - Applicability of Chapter to Commonwealth Charter Schools and Education Collaboratives
Section 4 - Purchase of Insurance Policies by Commission
Section 4a - Administrative Services Contracts
Section 4b - Retroactive Claims Denials for Behavioral Health Services
Section 5 - Insurance and Medicare Benefits of State Employees
Section 7 - Information Furnished Commission by Employees
Section 9 - Dividends, Refunds, Rate Credits; Deposit in Special Funds; Transfer of Reserves
Section 9a - Investment Committee; Investment and Deposit of Funds by State Treasurer
Section 10 - Retirement or Termination of Employment; Effect on Policy; Conversion of Insurance
Section 10a - Additional Insurance
Section 10b - Insurance for Elderly Government Retirees and Their Dependents
Section 10c - Optional Medicare Extension
Section 10d - Disability Insurance; Withholding Payment of Premiums
Section 10e - Insurance for Commonwealth Employee Granted Leave to Care for Dependent Child
Section 11 - Death of Employee or Retired Employee; Continuation of Insurance by Spouse or Dependent
Section 11a - Divorced or Separated Spouses; Continuation of Insurance Coverage
Section 14 - Optional Insurance for Services of Health Care Organizations
Section 16 - Election to Continue Insurance Coverages; Notice
Section 17 - Dental and Vision Expenses; Reimbursement of Employees
Section 17a - Coverage for Nonprescription Enteral Formulas for Home Use
Section 17b - Hospice Services for Commonwealth Employees Insured Under Group Insurance Commission
Section 17c - Required Coverage for Prenatal Care, Childbirth, and Postpartum Care
Section 17d - Coverage for Bone Marrow Transplants
Section 17e - Scalp Hair Prostheses Necessary Due to Cancer or Leukemia Treatment
Section 17f - Newborn Hearing Screening Test; Group Insurance Commission Coverage
Section 17h - Coverage for Human Leukocyte or Histocompatibility Locus Antigen Testing
Section 17i - Prosthetic Devices and Repairs; Group Insurance Commission Coverage
Section 17j - Coverage for Children Under Age 18 for Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
Section 17k - Coverage for Orally Administered Anticancer Medications
Section 17l - Coverage for Abuse Deterrent Opioid Drug Products
Section 17m - Preauthorization for Substance Abuse Treatment Not to Be Required
Section 17q - Pain Management Access Plan
Section 18 - Medicare Health Benefits Supplement Plan, Mandatory Transfer; Payment of Penalty
Section 19 - Release From Insurance Coverage; Payment; Reinstatement of Coverage
Section 20 - Charges or Collections of Excess Compensation
Section 21 - Health Care Services Evaluation; Vendor Quality Improvement Program; Annual Report
Section 23 - Coverage for Speech, Hearing and Language Disorders
Section 24 - State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund
Section 24a - State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees; Membership; Powers and Duties
Section 25 - Insurance Coverage for Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Section 28 - Coverage for Certain Services and Contraceptive Methods