Application
. Standard application form
provided by the Program which must be completed by an applicant.
Certification
. The process by which an
applicant is determined eligible to participate in the Program.
Gender-affirming Health Care Services
.
This includes all supplies, care and services of a medical, behavioral health,
mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative,
rehabilitative or supportive nature relating to the treatment of gender
dysphoria.
Health Care Program Participant
. A
person engaging in a legally-protected health care activity that is certified
by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to participate in the Address
Confidentiality Program.
Identification Card
. Card issued by
the Secretary of the Commonwealth to a Health Care Program Participant upon
certification, which includes the Health Care Program Participant's name,
identification code, a designated substitute address, certification expiration
date, and signature.
Identification Number
. A number
assigned to a Health Care Program Participant upon acceptance into the
Program.
Legally-protected Health Care
Activity
. This includes:
(a) the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted
exercise and enjoyment, by any person of rights to reproductive health care
services or gender-affirming health care services secured by the constitution
or laws of the commonwealth or the provision of insurance coverage for such
services; or
(b) any act or
omission undertaken to aid or encourage, or attempt to aid or encourage, any
person in the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, of
rights to
reproductive health care services or
gender-affirming health care
services secured by the constitution or laws of the commonwealth or to provide
insurance coverage for such services; provided, however, that the provision of
such a health care service by a person duly licensed under the laws of the
commonwealth and physically present in the commonwealth and the provision of
insurance coverage for such services shall be legally protected if the service
is permitted under the laws of the commonwealth, regardless of the patient's
location; and provided further, that "
legally-protected health care activity"
shall not include any service rendered below an applicable professional
standard of care or that would violate antidiscrimination laws of the
commonwealth.
Program
. The Address Confidentiality
Program established by M.G.L. c. 9A to provide designated addresses for
survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking or those
engaged in legally-protected health care services for use by state and local
agencies. The Program is not a witness protection program.
Program Manager
. An employee of the
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth designated by the Secretary to
administer the Address Confidentiality Program.
Reproductive Health Care Services
.
This includes all supplies, care and services of a medical, behavioral health,
mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventative,
rehabilitative or supportive nature relating to pregnancy, contraception,
assisted reproduction, miscarriage management or the termination of a
pregnancy.
Residential Address
. Means the street
name, street number, city or town, and zip code of the address where the Health
Care Program Participant resides.
Secretary
. Means the State Secretary
or the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Substitute Addresses
. The mailing and
other addresses designated by the Secretary of the Commonwealth for use by
Health Care Program Participants. The address is listed on the identification
card.
