Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 2, 2025

H 611: An Act relative to emergency stock epinephrine in schools

This bill requires all Massachusetts schools to maintain a stock supply of non-patient-specific epinephrine auto-injectors for immediate use during severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). It mandates schools to store the medication in accessible locations, determine appropriate quantities based on student population, train authorized staff, and regularly check expiration dates. The law also provides legal immunity for school staff who administer epinephrine in good faith during emergencies, protecting them and their school districts from civil liability. Additionally, the health and education departments must seek federal funding or free epinephrine from pharmaceutical companies to support implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates schools to maintain epinephrine auto-injectors for anaphylaxis emergencies, improving immediate access to critical healthcare in public settings.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Apr 21, 2026

H 4554: An Act to improve sickle cell care

H 4554 requires MassHealth (Massachusetts' Medicaid program) and commercial health insurers to cover fertility preservation services - such as freezing eggs or sperm - before medical treatments that risk infertility, like those for sickle cell disease or cancer. It directly affects MassHealth enrollees and insured individuals in Massachusetts who face treatment-related infertility risks. The bill mandates coverage without discrimination based on age, sex, health status, or other personal characteristics. It also establishes a statewide committee to coordinate sickle cell disease care and address racial health disparities. The bill is pending approval after being reported favorably by the Health Care Financing committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates coverage of fertility preservation services for sickle cell/cancer patients, expanding insurance access without discrimination.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 3957: An Act establishing a fund for the Western Massachusetts Hospital

HD 3364, introduced by Representative Michael J. Finn, proposes to establish a dedicated fund to support Western Massachusetts Hospital. The bill would create a new financial resource specifically for the hospital, though the abstract does not specify how the fund would be financed or allocated. This legislation, categorized under Public Health, directly affects the hospital's funding structure by enabling dedicated resource allocation. The abstract provides no details on operational changes or broader impacts beyond the fund's creation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes fund for Western Massachusetts Hospital under Public Health, directly providing financial support to healthcare infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 29, 2025

H 1191: An Act improving access to infertility treatment

HD 3095 (Massachusetts) defines infertility and mandates comprehensive health insurance coverage for infertility treatment. The bill requires insurers to cover specific services including up to six oocyte retrievals, unlimited embryo transfers (with single embryo transfer when medically appropriate), artificial insemination, sperm extraction, and third-party reproduction like IVF with donor eggs/sperm or gestational carriers. Insurers cannot impose extra restrictions such as higher deductibles, age limits, limits on treatment attempts, or discrimination based on protected characteristics (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation). This coverage must align with clinical guidelines from major medical societies and cannot override existing benefits or medical provider judgment. The law directly affects insured individuals seeking infertility treatment in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to improve access to infertility treatment, directly expanding patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 16, 2025

SD 3281: An Act relative to discharges from sober homes

By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Nick Collins for legislation relative to discharges from sober homes. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses discharge procedures for sober homes, supporting continuity of substance use treatment under mental health services90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 30, 2025

S 1914: An Act relative to Parkinson's disease disability and death in firefighters

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1914) of John C. Velis, Marcus S. Vaughn, Steven George Xiarhos, Paul K. Frost and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to Parkinson's disease disability and death in firefighters. Public Service.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides disability benefits for firefighters with Parkinson's disease, supporting healthcare access for affected workers through recognition of work-related health conditions.80% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Nov 6, 2025

S 1421: An Act relative to the mental health of children in schools

This bill (SD 789) requires schools to treat absences due to mental health symptoms the same as absences due to physical health symptoms. It mandates that schools accept documentation from licensed mental health professionals for mental health absences in the same way they accept documentation for physical health absences. Students returning after a mental health-related absence must be offered a meeting with a school counselor, though they cannot be required to attend. The law directly affects students, families, and school staff by standardizing absence policies for mental and physical health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health services for children in schools, directly advancing access to mental health care under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2240: An Act relative to discharges from sober homes

The bill HD 3449 (An Act relative to discharges from sober homes) is currently a draft being developed by House Counsel, with no substantive text provided in the available context. As a draft, the specific provisions, affected parties, or mechanisms of the bill cannot be summarized at this time. Legislative drafts like this often outline procedures for client discharges from sober living facilities but require finalized text for accurate description. Until the draft is completed and published, concrete details about its policy changes or scope remain unavailable.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill regulates discharges from sober homes, directly addressing substance use recovery services under mental health, supporting continued care access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2079: An Act to provide paid family and medical leave to educators and municipal employees

HD 2974 provides paid family and medical leave for educators employed by school districts or education collaboratives, and for municipal employees who choose to adopt the program. The bill requires the state (Commonwealth) to cover the employer's share of the cost for these groups by paying into a leave trust fund, rather than requiring local school districts or municipalities to fund it themselves. It also ensures that employees on leave maintain their health insurance coverage and accrue benefits like vacation time and seniority. This applies specifically to covered educators and municipal employees who opt into the program under the bill's provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides paid medical leave for employees, enabling access to healthcare without income loss, directly supporting healthcare access indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly provides paid family and medical leave benefits for educators and municipal employees, expanding worker benefits under Labor & Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 9, 2026

H 3287: An Act to form a special commission to conduct an audit on all abandoned state properties and determine the feasibility of repurposing them into drug addiction treatment facilities

This bill establishes a special commission to audit all abandoned state properties and assess whether they could be repurposed as drug addiction treatment facilities. The commission will hold public hearings and submit annual reports by June 30 to the governor and legislature, including feasibility findings and draft legislation for any recommended changes. It directly affects abandoned state properties and the process for evaluating their potential use in addressing substance use disorders. The bill creates a structured review process but does not authorize immediate repurposing or funding for treatment facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates commission to repurpose properties into drug addiction treatment facilities, directly advancing mental health/substance abuse healthcare access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track