PATCH BILL
An Act to protect access to confidential healthcare(HD 3059/SB 591)
Lead Sponsors: Representative Kate Hogan; Senator Karen Spilka
An Act to protect access to confidential healthcare would ensure that when multiple people are on the same insurance plan, confidential health care information is only shared with the patient. By requiring an insurer to send a “member-level” EOB to an address of the patient’s choosing, rather than to a family member, this bill would ensure greater privacy and alleviate fears of being punished or stigmatized for accessing needed services. Removing barriers to accessing care will in turn promote timely treatment and reduced health care costs.
On behalf of the Protecting Access to Confidential Health Care (PATCH) Alliance, we write to request that you cosponsorAn Act to protect access to confidential healthcare(, sponsored by Representative Hogan for the 2017-2018 session.If you cosponsored this bill in the last session, we thank you for your support to ensure access to safe, confidential healthcare through this critical legislation. This bill is supported by a broad coalition of providers and advocates, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and the Office of the Attorney General.
Patient confidentiality is a foundation of the patient-provider relationship and is essential in helping patients feel comfortable accessing care and communicating with their health care providers. Health plans typically send an Explanation of Benefits form (EOB) detailing the type and cost of medical services received to the primary subscriber each time an enrollee on the plan accesses care. In some instances, the EOB may contain information on sensitive health care services, such as care related to domestic violence or sexual assault, mental health or substance use disorders, sexual and reproductive health or HIV/AIDS, and can unintentionally compromise patient confidentiality for anyone enrolled as a dependent on another person’s health insurance policy, such as a young adult or spouse.
When patients are concerned about confidentiality they are more likely to delay or forgo receiving necessary health services. Additional concerns arise in the context of violence and abuse when the primary subscriber may be the coercive, controlling or abusive party. Fear that the controlling partner or family member will learn of the treatment and further exacerbate the abuse deters many from seeking care altogether.
This bill passed the Senate with bi-partisan support last session and received a favorable report from the House Committee on Ways and Means at the end of the session.
Contact: Margaret Haffey, Legislative Advocacy Committee Co-chair, NASW-MA
PATCH Alliance:
AIDS Action Committee
Action for Boston Community Development
Association for Behavioral Healthcare
ACLU of Massachusetts
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine
Boston Public Health Commission
Cambridge Health Alliance
Citizens for Citizens
College Health Association of Administrators & Nurse Directors
Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals
Connors Center for Women's Health & Gender Biology, Brigham & Women's
Eastern MA Abortion Fund
Fenway Health
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Health Care For All
Health Law Advocates
Health Quarters
Ibis Reproductive Health
Jane Doe Inc.
Judicial Consent for Minors Lawyer Referral Panel
MA Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
MA Assoc. for School-Based Health Care
MA Family Planning Association
MA Law Reform Institute
MA Psychiatric Society
MA Organization for Addiction Recovery
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts
National Alliance on Mental Illness Mass
National Association of Social Workers – MA Chapter
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
Partners HealthCare System
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of MA
Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center
Tapestry Health
The Dimock Center
The Second Step
Victim Rights Law Center
Women’s Bar Association