Healthcare (Women's Health)

signed · Massachusetts · House Aug 10, 2026

H 5595: An Act prioritizing patient access to care

This bill, titled "An Act prioritizing patient access to care," amends Massachusetts state law to change how abortions are regulated. It removes the requirement that abortions must be performed only to preserve a patient's life or health or due to specific fetal diagnoses, replacing those criteria with a standard based solely on a physician's professional judgment. Additionally, the bill prevents any medical review process from overriding a doctor's decision to perform an abortion when a patient or their health care proxy requests it. These changes directly affect physicians, patients, and healthcare facilities by expanding the circumstances under which abortions can be legally provided.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes restrictive abortion criteria, expanding patient access to care and protecting physician judgment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 23, 2026

H 5021: An Act to expand the doula workforce

H 5021 creates the Maternal Health Justice Fund to expand the doula workforce in Massachusetts. The fund, managed by the Department of Public Health, will provide scholarships for doula certification (prioritizing historically marginalized groups, low-income individuals, and underserved areas), support community doula programs, and fund workforce development. It requires certification programs to teach clinical knowledge (like anatomy and labor support), health equity, anti-racism, trauma-informed care, and cultural competence. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals, birth parents, and doulas by increasing access to non-medical support during pregnancy and postpartum.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds doula certification and programs to expand maternal health services, targeting underserved communities, directly advancing healthcare access and equity.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds doula certification scholarships, workforce development, and prioritizes marginalized groups in employment, directly advancing labor/employment opportunities in maternal healthcare sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4899: An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care

This bill (H 4899) requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover post-pregnancy mental health care - including postpartum and post-miscarriage care - without any out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or copays. It applies to both private insurance and Medicaid plans, ensuring coverage is equally available to enrollees and their spouses or dependents. The law explicitly adds this care to existing pregnancy-related coverage requirements in multiple sections of state health laws and prohibits unreasonable delays or restrictions in accessing these services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for post-pregnancy mental health care under all insurance plans, expanding access and protecting patient rights per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Women's Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Oct 15, 2025

H 4601: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.

This bill, H 4601, is a fiscal year 2025 appropriations measure that allocates specific funds to Massachusetts state agencies and programs. It directly affects state operations by supplementing existing budgets, including $2.05 billion for MassHealth fee-for-service payments, $35 million for housing preservation, $15 million for World Cup event support, and $60.7 million for snow removal services. Key mechanisms include re-appropriating unspent funds from previous years and creating new funding reserves for specific purposes like reproductive health care continuity and substance use disorder treatment facilities. The bill ensures these funds are available through June 2026, supplementing existing appropriations without creating new policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $2.05B for MassHealth, $35M housing preservation, and $60.7M snow removal, directly funding essential public services and supplementing existing budgets.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $2.05B for MassHealth fee-for-service payments, directly funding healthcare coverage under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates $35 million specifically for housing preservation, directly funding housing stability efforts per the summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Substance Abuse Women's Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1311: An Act related to unborn victims of Down Syndrome

HD 1311 prohibits abortions performed or induced because of a Down syndrome diagnosis in an unborn child. It directly affects medical providers (doctors, nurses, etc.) who perform such abortions, making it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison, license revocation, or fines. The bill requires providers to know the abortion is sought due to a Down syndrome test result or diagnosis. Violators face criminal penalties, loss of medical license, and civil lawsuits for damages. Pregnant women seeking such abortions are not held liable under this law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access based on Down syndrome diagnosis, limiting medical service options and penalizing providers for performing such procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 8, 2025

H 2704: An Act relative to the postpartum treatment of women in correctional facilities

HD 826 requires correctional facilities to keep incarcerated women in the hospital after childbirth until two medical professionals approve discharge: the attending physician must certify the mother's safety, and the infant's pediatrician must confirm the baby has had sufficient time with the mother (up to a maximum of 72 hours) to ensure the infant's health. This bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women in state correctional facilities and their newborn infants. The key provision replaces the previous language with a specific 72-hour maximum stay requirement tied to medical assessments for both mother and infant. The law aims to ensure both the mother's and infant's health are medically verified before transfer back to the facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates postpartum care for women in correctional facilities, improving healthcare conditions within the corrections system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires postpartum healthcare for incarcerated women, expanding access to essential medical services in correctional facilities95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 171: An Act to support maternal health

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 171) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to support maternal health by providing financial assistance to an eligible pregnant person. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides financial assistance for maternal health, directly funding healthcare access for pregnant people through targeted support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 4122: An Act relative to deceptive trade practices

By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4122) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to deceptive trade practices for emergency contraceptives and medical abortion. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses deceptive trade practices for emergency contraceptives/medical abortion under Public Health, protecting patient access to accurate health information and services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 1579: An Act to eliminate barriers and expand abortion access

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1579) of Liz Miranda and Manny Cruz for legislation to eliminate barriers and expand abortion access for patients under the age of 16. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands abortion access for minors, directly improving patient access to reproductive healthcare services under Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 2658: An Act to provide reproductive health care to incarcerated individuals

This bill requires Massachusetts correctional facilities to provide free contraceptive services - including reversible methods, emergency contraception, and nonprescription options - to all incarcerated individuals capable of pregnancy upon request, with no unnecessary obstacles. It mandates family planning counseling 60-180 days before release, ensures continuity of prescribed birth control methods, and requires facilities to post clear information about reproductive health rights. For pregnant individuals, the bill guarantees they can determine their own abortion eligibility under state law, with informed consent required and prison staff barred from making such decisions. The Department of Correction must implement these changes within one year of passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides reproductive health care to incarcerated individuals, addressing a correctional health need. This aligns with criminal justice reform by improving conditions in corrections, a key component of the topic.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly provides reproductive health care access to incarcerated individuals, expanding healthcare coverage for a vulnerable population.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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