# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 3: Complaints against carriers; notice; hearing > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S3 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 3 - **Heading:** Complaints against carriers; notice; hearing - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 176O / Section 3 ## Text Section 3. (a) The bureau shall investigate all complaints made against a carrier or any entity with which it contracts for allegations of noncompliance with the accreditation requirements established by section 2. The bureau shall notify a carrier when, in the opinion of the bureau, the complaints made against such a carrier indicate a pattern of noncompliance with a particular accreditation requirement. The notice shall detail the alleged noncompliance and establish a hearing date for the matter, which shall be held no later than 21 days after the date of the notice. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 30A. The hearing shall provide such a carrier with the opportunity to respond to the alleged noncompliance. (b) The bureau may, after said hearing, suspend or revoke the accreditation of such a carrier, or reprimand, censure or impose a civil administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each classification of violation. (c) If, after said hearing, the bureau determines that such a pattern of noncompliance has been substantiated, the bureau may issue an order requesting a corrective action plan and timeframe to achieve compliance. (d) If a national accreditation organization takes any action to revoke the accreditation or otherwise limit or negatively affect the accreditation status of a carrier, or any entity with which it contracts for services regulated under this chapter, such carrier shall promptly notify the bureau. If a national accreditation entity revokes such accreditation, the carrier shall not be eligible for deemed accreditation status, and the bureau shall initiate proceedings pursuant to chapter 30A to revoke or suspend the carrier's accreditation. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the bureau and a carrier from resolving compliance issues through informal means. (f) Accreditation granted to carriers pursuant to this section shall be renewed every 2 years. The fee for the renewal shall be in an amount determined by the commissioner, but shall not be less than $1,000. Section 3. (a) The bureau shall investigate all complaints made against a carrier or any entity with which it contracts for allegations of noncompliance with the accreditation requirements established by section 2. The bureau shall notify a carrier when, in the opinion of the bureau, the complaints made against such a carrier indicate a pattern of noncompliance with a particular accreditation requirement. The notice shall detail the alleged noncompliance and establish a hearing date for the matter, which shall be held no later than 21 days after the date of the notice. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 30A. The hearing shall provide such a carrier with the opportunity to respond to the alleged noncompliance. (b) The bureau may, after said hearing, suspend or revoke the accreditation of such a carrier, or reprimand, censure or impose a civil administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each classification of violation. (c) If, after said hearing, the bureau determines that such a pattern of noncompliance has been substantiated, the bureau may issue an order requesting a corrective action plan and timeframe to achieve compliance. (d) If a national accreditation organization takes any action to revoke the accreditation or otherwise limit or negatively affect the accreditation status of a carrier, or any entity with which it contracts for services regulated under this chapter, such carrier shall promptly notify the bureau. If a national accreditation entity revokes such accreditation, the carrier shall not be eligible for deemed accreditation status, and the bureau shall initiate proceedings pursuant to chapter 30A to revoke or suspend the carrier's accreditation. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the bureau and a carrier from resolving compliance issues through informal means. the bureau. If a national accreditation entity revokes such accreditation, the carrier shall not be eligible for deemed accreditation status, and the bureau shall initiate proceedings pursuant to chapter 30A to revoke or suspend the carrier's accreditation. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the bureau and a carrier from resolving compliance issues through informal means. (f) Accreditation granted to carriers pursuant to this section shall be renewed every 2 years. The fee for the renewal shall be in an amount determined by the commissioner, but shall not be less than $1,000. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 1 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 2 Bureau of managed care](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 3 Complaints against carriers; notice; hearing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 4 Refusal of carriers to contract with eligible health, dental or vision care providers solely because providers have practiced good faith advocacy on behalf of patients](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S4.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 5 Contracts; liability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 5A Acceptance and recognition of information submitted pursuant to current coding standards and guidelines required; use of standardized claim formats](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S5A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 5B Policies and procedures to enforce Sec. 5A](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S5B.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 5C Failure of carrier to comply with coding standards and guidelines; notice; penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S5C.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 5D Establishment of base fee schedule for evaluation and management services for behavioral health providers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S5D.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 6 Evidence of coverage to be delivered to covered adults by health, dental and vision care providers; contents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 7 Information provided by carrier upon enrollment or upon request](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S7.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 8 Failure by carrier to file annual statement; fine](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 9 Utilization review programs; annual attestations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S9.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176O, sec. 9A Agreements or contracts between carrier and health care provider prohibited if containing certain provisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S9A.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TXXII_C176O_S3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.