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H 4337

Subpoena Powers

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bruce Bannister and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts H.4337 would require most health plans to cover Pap and HPV cervical cancer screenings with no cost sharing, boosting access and cutting out-of-pocket costs.

Conference committee appointed Young, Campsen, Matthews
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Bill Summary · H 4337

Summary — H.4337

Status: Referred to Committee on Finance (House actions and committee reports listed below)
Primary subject (as filed in House No. 4337): Insurance coverage for cervical cancer prevention — cytological (Pap) and HPV screenings, no cost‑sharing.
Note: the file provided also contains separate draft legislation from South Carolina concerning subpoena powers for the Legislative Audit Council; that text appears to be a different bill included in the packet. Both are summarized below.

Purpose and intent

The Massachusetts portion of H.4337 would require virtually all major types of health insurance and managed care contracts issued or renewed in the Commonwealth to cover cytological (Pap) screenings and human papillomavirus (HPV) screenings with no cost sharing to members. The stated intent is to increase access to cervical cancer screening and prevention by removing cost barriers.

Key provisions (Massachusetts health coverage)

  • Amends multiple chapters of the Massachusetts General Laws to add mandatory coverage for cytological and HPV screenings with no cost sharing:
    • Chapter 175 — insert new Section 47AAA (applies to blanket/general policies and accident/sickness policies providing hospital/surgical benefits, and employers’ health & welfare funds issued/renewed in the Commonwealth).
    • Chapter 176A — insert Section 8EEE (individual/group hospital service plans).
    • Chapter 176B — insert Section 4EEE (individual/group service agreements).
    • Chapter 176G — insert Section 4WW (individual/group health maintenance contracts; explicitly mentions annual screenings).
  • Coverage applies when policies/contracts are delivered, issued, or renewed within the Commonwealth during the period the provision is effective.
  • Requires no cost sharing (i.e., no copayment, coinsurance, or deductible) for the covered screenings.

Who is affected

  • Insurers, HMOs, health service corporations, and employers’ health and welfare funds offering plans in Massachusetts would be required to provide no‑cost cytological and HPV screenings.
  • Plan members/insured individuals (particularly people with uteruses and people eligible for cervical cancer screening) would benefit from reduced financial barriers to screening.
  • State regulators and carriers would need to update policy forms, member materials, and claims/payment practices to implement the mandate.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • 2025-04-09: Introduced and read first time; referred to Committee on Judiciary.
  • 2025-04-30: Committee report: Favorable Judiciary.
  • 2025-05-01: Read second time; House roll call Yeas 109, Nays 0; unanimous consent for third reading next legislative day.
  • 2025-05-02: Read third time and sent to Senate.
  • 2025-05-06: Introduced and read first time; referred to Committee on Finance.
  • 2025-07-31: New draft of H1161; reported from the Committee on Financial Services; reported favorably and referred to Committee on Health Care Financing (committee report by James M. Murphy, filed 7/25/2025).

(Notes: the file contains multiple entries and draft numbers — readers should consult the official legislative docket for the final engrossed text and current referral.)

Separate included text — South Carolina draft (different bill)

The packet also contains text of a South Carolina bill that would:
- Add Section 2-15-130 granting the Legislative Audit Council power to issue subpoenas/subpoenas duces tecum and compel sworn testimony and documents; permit contempt applications to circuit court for noncompliance.
- Amend Section 2-15-40 to specify director qualifications (baccalaureate degree; minimum years of accounting/auditing experience; managerial experience) and staffing requirements.
- Amend Section 2-15-61 to expand access to agency and private‑entity records (irrespective of confidentiality, with certain revenue-report exceptions), require prompt production or written timelines, define “records,” and create misdemeanor penalties (fine/imprisonment, dismissal, and ineligibility for office for convicted state employees).
- Amend Section 2-15-120 to clarify that most Legislative Audit Council records and working papers are confidential and define “records.”

If you want, I can:
- Pull the exact legal language in plain English for any subsection, or
- Verify the current official status of H.4337 on the Massachusetts legislative website and provide links to the engrossed text and committee reports.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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