An Act to support families

This bill amends Massachusetts law to require health care providers to report cases of in-utero substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to the state department. The reporting must exclude parents' and infants' names and cannot be used as evidence of child abuse or neglect. Additionally, the legislation removes the classification of physical dependence on addictive drugs at birth as a mandatory reportable condition. These changes aim to ensure that medical professionals can share necessary health information without automatically triggering child welfare investigations.