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Health Connector finalizes MCC amendments to preserve no-cost preventive services
Summary
The Board approved amendments to Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) regulations to lock in the federal definition of preventive services as of July 1, 2025, aiming to protect no-cost preventive services for Massachusetts residents despite federal policy changes; staff received two written comments.
The Health Connector Board voted on May 14 to adopt final amendments to the Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) requirements, preserving the set of federally defined preventive services in effect as of July 1, 2025.
Michael Cannella presented the amendments, explaining that Massachusetts law under Chapter 58 requires adult residents to have coverage meeting MCC standards or face a potential individual-mandate penalty. He said the proposed change would "lock in federally defined preventive services in effect as of July 1, 2025" to protect existing no-cost preventive services from erosion due to federal policy shifts.
Cannella said staff had held a public comment period; there were no oral testimonies, but written comments were received from the Department of Public Health and from the Health Equity Compact. Board members asked about the public comment process and about tracking trends among individuals paying penalties while holding coverage that does not meet MCC standards. Staff agreed to provide additional information in response to these requests.
The Board voted to approve the final amendments to 956 CMR 5.00; Cannella noted the regulations will not take effect until filed and published by the Secretary of State.
Board members framed the change as an effort to maintain Massachusettss historically robust preventive coverage standards and to mitigate potential downstream impacts of federal policy shifts.
