Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H1168: An Act relative to eliminating the PCP referral requirement for specialty gynecological care
Status: In committee, July 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
Subsection (g) of section 15 of chapter 176O of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- No carrier shall require an insured to obtain a referral or prior authorization from a primary care provider for specialty care provided by an obstetrician, gynecologist, certified nurse-midwife or family practitioner participating in such carrier's health care provider network for the following: (i) annual preventive gynecologic health examinations, including any subsequent obstetric or gynecological services determined by such obstetrician, gynecologist, certified nurse-midwife or family practitioner to be medically necessary as a result of such examination; (ii) preventative gynecologic health care and menstrual health conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain; (iii) maternity care; and (iv) medically necessary evaluations and resultant health care services for acute or emergency gynecological conditions.
Sponsors
- Judith Garcia (D) · primary sponsor
- Patrick Kearney (D, 4th Plymouth)
- Margaret Scarsdale (D)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- : Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Monday, June 15, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- : Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- : Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2
- : Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Financial Services
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (July 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (October 9, 2025): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H1168?
- H1168 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to eliminating the PCP referral requirement for specialty gynecological care.
- What is the status of H1168?
- In committee as of July 22, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (July 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored H1168?
- Judith Garcia (D), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H1168?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1168
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.