Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 22, 2025

H 2436: An Act to eliminate fees for the removal of a child’s body by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

HD 1372 eliminates all fees charged by Massachusetts' Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) for removing, transporting, or handling the body of a deceased child. It directly affects grieving families who would otherwise pay these costs, covering children under age 5 (including reportable fetal deaths). The bill prohibits OCME from imposing such fees immediately upon enactment and requires the state to fund this service through budget adjustments. It also mandates an annual OCME report to the Legislature tracking cases, costs, and funding needs related to the policy change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates fees for medical examiner services, improving access to a public health program without financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 18, 2025

H 3291: An Act transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health

HD 457 transfers operation and oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. The bill directly affects the hospital's patients, staff, and the two departments, changing who manages care and security. Key provisions include assigning the Mental Health Commissioner responsibility for treatment, forensic services, and facility operations under new regulations, while removing all references to the Department of Correction in related laws. The transfer becomes effective by December 31, 2026, and requires a study on constructing a new facility for current patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTransferring Bridgewater State Hospital to the Department of Mental Health directly aligns with specialized mental health care oversight, strengthening mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2413: An Act recognizing EMS as a disease dangerous to the public health, requiring inclusion in MAVEN, establishing the Massachusetts EMS registry and requiring biennial reporting as part of population health trends

This bill classifies Electromagnetic Sensitivity (EMS) as a disease dangerous to public health in Massachusetts, requiring its inclusion in the state's disease surveillance system (MAVEN) and environmental exposure tracking. It mandates the creation of an EMS disease registry to collect data on incidence and prevalence, with a 10-member advisory committee (including patients, doctors, and researchers) to guide its development and ensure privacy. The bill requires health officials to distribute educational materials based on international guidelines and include EMS in biennial public health reports. It directly affects healthcare providers, public health agencies, and individuals experiencing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or skin issues linked to electromagnetic field exposure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill recognizes EMS as a disease dangerous to public health, requiring inclusion in monitoring and biennial reporting for population health trends, advancing public health program initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 1413: An Act to promote victim service funding

SD 1385 amends two sections of Massachusetts law to expand the types of funding available for victim services. It adds "gifts, grants and donations" from both public and private sources to the list of revenues that can be used for victim service programs. This change directly affects organizations providing victim support services by allowing them to access a broader pool of state funds. The bill modifies existing legal definitions (in Sections 66 and 66A of Chapter 10) to include these new revenue sources without creating new funding streams. It is a procedural update to clarify how existing funds can be allocated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes victim service funding, a direct component of criminal justice support systems, aligning with reform goals to assist crime victims.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly promotes victim services funding with focus on mental health and substance use recovery, directly supporting healthcare services in this area.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Oct 27, 2025

H 4650: An Act relative to social work uplifting practices and exam removal

H 4650 removes a licensing exam requirement for certain social workers in Massachusetts, renaming "Licensed Certified Social Workers" to "Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers" to streamline the process. It creates a new paid internship grant program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students from historically marginalized and low-income communities, funded through state or federal resources. The bill also allows licensed clinical social workers to earn continuing education credits for supervising interns. These changes aim to increase workforce diversity and retention, with an evaluation required to assess impacts on access to mental health services and workforce diversity, effective January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill streamlines social work licensing, creates targeted training grants, and enables continuing education - directly expanding access to mental health services and supporting healthcare workforce diversity.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves licensing barriers for social workers and creates paid internships for marginalized groups, facilitating workforce entry and equity in employment pathways.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Nov 20, 2025

H 790: An Act to support quality improvement in nursing homes

HD 1616 creates a new Long-Term Care Facility Quality Improvement Team to assist nursing homes facing operational or financial challenges. The team provides technical assistance to facilities identified as at risk of worsening health and safety conditions, without conducting inspections or enforcing rules. Nursing homes must cooperate with the team and share required financial, operational, and programmatic information. The bill establishes criteria for identifying at-risk facilities and allows the commissioner to set implementation rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides technical assistance to nursing homes for quality improvement, directly advancing healthcare services in long-term care facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 4118: An Act to establish an emergency medical services treatment-in-place (TIP) pilot program

By Representative Davis of Great Barrington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4118) of Leigh Davis for legislation to establish an emergency medical services treatment-in-place pilot program. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes EMS TIP pilot program under Public Health, improving emergency care access and services without transport, directly advancing healthcare delivery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1801: An Act to provide continuum of care for severe mental illness

HD 3780 creates a new court-approved community-based treatment program for adults with severe mental illness who are at high risk of harm to themselves or others due to treatment non-adherence. It establishes a "critical community mental health service treatment plan" requiring court approval as the least restrictive alternative to hospitalization, targeting individuals who are "gravely disabled" (unable to meet basic needs safely due to mental illness) and have a history of repeated hospitalizations or violent behavior. The plan must include supervision, medication, and assistance with basic needs like housing and employment, with initial court orders limited to 180 days (renewable up to 365 days). This bill directly affects eligible individuals with severe mental illness and their care providers, shifting focus from inpatient commitment to structured community care under judicial oversight.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes continuum of care for severe mental illness, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policy95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2420: An Act relative to preventing death by drug overdose

HD 730 requires emergency medical personnel to transport individuals experiencing apparent drug overdoses to hospitals after administering an opioid antagonist (like naloxone), even without the person's consent. It allows limited searches for weapons during transport if safety is at risk and permits emergency restraints under specific conditions. The law provides legal immunity to EMTs, firefighters, and volunteers who administer antidotes or provide emergency care in good faith, protecting them from liability for non-gross-negligence acts. This directly affects overdose victims (requiring hospital transport) and emergency responders (shielding them from lawsuits). The bill amends Massachusetts General Laws to prioritize medical care over immediate legal action for overdose cases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes EMTs to restrain patients in overdose emergencies, directly enhancing public health response to prevent death by drug overdose under Public Health subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 1621: An Act relative to medical records requests

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1621) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to medical records requests. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables patient access to medical records under Public Health, aligning with 'improves patient access' indicator for healthcare support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track