Section 175M:5 - Certification(a)(1) Covered individuals shall file a benefit claim pursuant to regulations issued by the department. If a claim is filed more than 90 calendar days after the start of leave, the covered individual may receive reduced benefits. All claims shall include a certification supporting a request for leave under this chapter. The department shall establish good cause exemptions from the certification requirement deadline in the event that a serious health condition of the covered individual prevents the covered individual from providing the required certification within the 90 calendar days.(2) Certification for a covered individual taking medical leave shall be sufficient if it states the date on which the serious health condition commenced, the probable duration of the condition and the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the department, which shall include a statement by the health care provider that the covered individual is unable to perform the functions of the covered individual's position, a statement of the medical necessity, if any, for intermittent leave or leave on a reduced leave schedule and, if applicable, the expected duration of the intermittent leave or reduced leave schedule.(3) Certification for a covered individual taking family leave because of the serious health condition of a family member of the covered individual shall be sufficient if it states the date on which the serious health condition commenced, the probable duration of the condition, the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the department, a statement that the covered individual is needed to care for the family member, and, if applicable, include a statement of the medical necessity, if any, for intermittent leave or leave on a reduced leave schedule and the expected duration of the intermittent leave or reduced leave schedule and an estimate of the amount of time that the covered individual is needed to care for the family member.(4) Certification for a covered individual taking family leave because of the birth of a child of the covered individual shall be sufficient if the covered individual provides either the child's birth certificate or a document issued by the health care provider of the child or the health care provider of the person who gave birth, stating the child's birth date.(5) Certification for a covered individual taking family leave because of the placement of a child with the covered individual for adoption or foster care shall be sufficient if the covered individual provides a document issued by the health care provider of the child, an adoption or foster care agency involved in the placement or by other individuals as determined by the department that confirms the placement and the date of placement. To the extent that the status of a covered individual as an adoptive or foster parent changes while an application for benefits is pending, or while the covered individual is receiving benefits, the covered individual shall be required to notify the department of such change in status in writing. The department of children and families may confirm in writing the status of the covered individual as an adoptive or foster parent while an application for benefits is pending or while a covered individual is receiving benefits.(6) Certification for a covered individual taking family leave because of a qualifying exigency shall be sufficient if it includes: (i) a copy of the family member's active-duty orders; (ii) other documentation issued by the Armed Forces; or (iii) other documentation permitted by the department. (7) Certification for a covered individual taking family leave to care for a family member who is a covered servicemember shall be sufficient if it includes: (i) the date on which the serious health condition commenced; (ii) the probable duration of the condition; (iii) the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the department, which shall include a statement of the medical necessity, if any, for intermittent leave or leave on a reduced leave schedule and, if applicable, the expected duration of the intermittent leave or reduced leave schedule; (iv) a statement that the covered individual is needed to care for the family member; (v) an estimate of the amount of time that the covered individual is needed to care for the family member; and (vi) an attestation by the covered individual that the health condition is connected to the covered servicemember's military service as required by this chapter. (b) Any medical or health information required under this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except with permission from the covered individual who provided it unless disclosure is otherwise required by law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a covered individual to provide as certification any information from a health care provider that would be in violation of section 1177 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1320d-6, or the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191.(c) A covered individual shall not be eligible to receive family or medical leave benefits if the department finds, through a process it shall establish through regulations, that the covered individual, for the purpose of obtaining these benefits, willfully made a false statement or representation, with actual knowledge of the falsity thereof, or willfully withheld a material fact concerning the facts required to be certified pursuant to this section.Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175M, § 5
Amended by Acts 2019, c. 21,Secs.§5, §6, §7 eff. 6/13/2019.Added by Acts 2018, c. 121,§ 29, eff. 1/1/2019.