On July 21, 2000, former Governor Paul Cellucci signed Chapter
141 of the Acts of 2000, an Act Relative to Managed Care Practices
in the Insurance Industry into law in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. The law and accompanying regulations became
effective on January 1, 2001. The new law incorporated many aspects
of legislation (e.g., Patient Bill of Rights) that had been debated
and defeated in previous years. This new comprehensive law expanded
the rights and protections afforded to health care consumers,
providers and the Commonwealth.
This study, updated in September 2006, focuses on five
areas of publicly reported information: Timely Payment Provision,
External Reviews, Accreditation of Plans, Annual Disclosure of
Materials, and the Prudent Layperson Definition of Emergency
Medical Condition. Analysis of compliance with many of the
above referenced provisions (e.g., Standing Referrals) within the
regulations requires additional discussion and sharing of
information by the health plans.
Download the full analysis (.pdf, 19 pages, 255 KB)
