Massachusetts H5020: An Act relative to unilateral contract changes

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:

SECTION 3. Section 15 of chapter 176O of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection j and inserting in place thereof the following new subsection:- (j) No carrier shall make a contract with a health care provider which includes a provision permitting termination without cause. A carrier shall provide a written statement to a provider of the reason or reasons for such provider's involuntary disenrollment. No carrier shall make a contract with a health care provider which includes a provision permitting the carrier to make a unilateral change to any material term or condition of such contract, including, but not limited to, changes to underlying fee schedules, payment terms, carrier policies or procedures, definitions of covered services or covered sites of services, policies associated with utilization review, quality management and improvement, credentialing or covered preventive health services, other than a change expressly required by law, unless the effective date of such unilateral change is after the end of the then-current term of such contract, and notice of such change was provided, in writing, to the health care provider more than 90 days before the date by which the health care provider must provide notice of termination or non-renewal to the carrier under such contract. Nothing herein shall prohibit a carrier …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I) · primary sponsor
• Frank Moran (D, 17th Essex)

Latest actions

1. July 9, 2026: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
2. February 5, 2026: Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
3. February 5, 2026: New draft of H1267
4. February 5, 2026: Reported from the committee on Financial Services

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (January 12, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H5020?

H5020 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to unilateral contract changes.

What is the status of H5020?

In committee as of July 9, 2026. Latest action: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (July 9, 2026).

Who sponsored H5020?

Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for H5020?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5020