Changes in the Early Intervention Mandate

[LOGO] JANE SWIFT GOVERNOR # COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation DIVISION OF INSURANCE One South Station • Boston, MA 02110-2208 (617) 521-7794 • FAX (617) 521-7750 TTY/TDD (617) 521-7490 http://www.state.ma.us/doi JENNIFER DAVIS CAREY DIRECTOR, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND BUSINESS REGULATION LINDA RUTHARDT COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE Bulletin 2002-06 To: Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. and Health Maintenance Organizations From: Commissioner Linda Ruthardt Re: Changes in Early Intervention Mandate Date: January 24, 2002 This bulletin is to inform carriers of certain changes to the Massachusetts mandated benefit for early intervention as expressed within Chapter 203 of the Acts of 2001 (Chapter 203), which was signed into law on December, 2001. Section 8 of Chapter 203 amends M.G.L. c. 175 §47C; section 9 amends c. 176A §8B; section 10 amends c. 176B §4C; and section 11 amends c. 176G §4. The effect of these changes is to remove sections of the existing mandated benefit specifying that services include “occupational, physical and speech therapy, nursing care and psychological counseling...provided by persons licensed [as medical doctors] under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twelve.” The amended sections specify that the services may be provided by “early intervention specialists” according to “operational standards [developed] by the Department of Public Health.” Copies of such standards may be obtained by accessing the Department of Public Health’s Early Intervention Services website at http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bfch/shn/early/eiopstnd.pdf or by contacting the Department of Public Health. Any questions regarding the Department of Public Health operational standards should be addressed to Ronald Denham, Director of Early Intervention Services at (617) 624-5969. Any questions regarding any other parts of this bulletin should be addressed to Kevin Beagan, Director, Health Unit of the State Rating Bureau at (617) 521-7347.