This bill (HD 493) requires all health insurance policies sold in Massachusetts to cover cervical cancer screenings - specifically Pap tests (cytological screenings) and HPV tests - without any cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for the insured person. It applies to all individual and group health insurance plans, including hospital service plans, health maintenance contracts, and service agreements delivered or renewed in the Commonwealth. The law mandates this coverage as a standard requirement, directly affecting women who rely on health insurance for preventative care. It does not create new programs but ensures existing coverage includes these screenings at no out-of-pocket cost to patients.
HD 963 requires all health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover "prenatal pediatric visits" - defined as appointments between a pregnant person and a pediatrician to establish a family-pediatric partnership - as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill directly affects state employees, Medicaid members, and individuals with private health insurance, group hospital plans, and health maintenance contracts. Key provisions mandate coverage for these visits in state employee plans (Ch. 32A), Medicaid managed care (Ch. 118E), private health insurance (Ch. 175), and other covered plans (Chs. 176A, 176B, 176G). Insurers must also provide written notice to members about this coverage, prominently included in annual communications. The policy change standardizes this specific preventive care coverage across multiple insurance categories without altering eligibility or funding.
HD 1626 requires health insurance policies, hospital service plans, and medical service agreements in Massachusetts to cover surgical first assistant services provided by registered nurses (RNs) licensed under Chapter 112, rather than other providers. This directly affects insurers, hospitals, and RNs by mandating that existing coverage for "surgical first assisting" must specifically include RNs. The bill amends Chapters 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G of the General Laws to clarify this interpretation. Additionally, it requires the Department of Public Health to report by September 2026 on RN first assistant services, including patient outcomes and satisfaction data from hospitals and insurers.
This bill establishes a fundamental right to bodily autonomy for health decisions for both individuals and their minor children under Massachusetts law. It prohibits any public or private entity from mandating health-related interventions (including vaccinations, mask-wearing, data sharing, or genetic procedures) except for specific exceptions like drug testing, certain occupational health requirements (excluding vaccines), driver's license medical tests, or hospital admissions under Chapter 123. Individuals harmed by violations can seek injunctions, damages, legal fees, or reinstatement with back pay. The law overrides other state or federal mandates during emergencies. It directly affects people, employers, schools, healthcare providers, and government agencies requiring health-related actions.
This bill (SD 1628) requires faster processing of inpatient mental health care decisions in Massachusetts. It mandates that hospital hearings for patients in mental health facilities occur within 7 days (instead of "as expeditiously as possible") and shortens timelines for independent medical exams to 24 hours after counsel is appointed, with completion within 3 business days. It also creates a new process for approving antipsychotic medication for children in state custody who are hospitalized, requiring the Department of Children and Families and the Child Advocate to develop a specific timeline. These changes directly affect hospitals, indigent patients seeking care, and children in foster care receiving psychiatric treatment.
This bill (SD 1718) requires mandatory psychiatric evaluations in hospital emergency rooms when a physician, psychologist, advanced practice nurse, or social worker authorizes a restraint for a patient. It directly affects individuals experiencing mental health crises who are placed under restraint in emergency settings. The key provision mandates that the emergency room, not other facilities, must determine whether to seek a 3-day hospitalization at a public or department-approved private facility. This change aims to standardize emergency mental health assessments and hospitalization decisions.
HD 3388 requires all health insurance policies in Massachusetts - including those covering Commonwealth employees, individual/group accident/sickness plans, health maintenance contracts, and preferred provider agreements - to reimburse hospital-at-home services equally to in-person hospital care. It specifically applies to acute care hospitals participating in the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. The bill mandates that insurers cover these services at the same rate as traditional hospital visits, removing financial barriers for patients seeking this alternative care. This directly affects insured residents and Commonwealth employees, ensuring parity in coverage for a specific type of home-based medical treatment.
This bill requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover pain management options during IUD insertions without cost-sharing. It applies to state employee health plans, Medicaid, private accident/sickness insurance, and hospital service plans, covering methods like IV sedation, oral sedation, or topical anesthesia as prescribed by a provider. The law prohibits deductibles, copays, or cost-sharing for these services and ensures coverage extends to spouses and dependents. Religious employers may opt out but must notify enrollees about excluded contraceptive services.
This bill requires Massachusetts hospitals to establish clear financial assistance policies for low- and moderate-income patients. It sets income-based discounts: free care for households under 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), 75% discounts for 201-300% FPL, 50% for 301-350% FPL, and 25% for 351-400% FPL. Hospitals must provide written and verbal notices about these policies during registration and billing, post notices prominently in facilities, and include clear financial assistance information on all billing statements. The bill also prohibits hospitals from considering immigration status, total bill cost, or restrictive contracts when determining eligibility, and mandates annual reporting of application data by hospital.
This bill (SD 947) requires health insurance plans to cover specific addiction and mental health treatments without preauthorization. It defines "acute treatment," "clinical stabilization," and "co-occurring treatment" services as 24-hour inpatient care for substance use and mental health conditions, with a 14-day maximum coverage limit. The law applies to state employee health plans (Section 1), Medicaid programs (Section 2), and private insurance policies meeting "creditable coverage" standards (Section 3), mandating coverage for these services while requiring facilities to notify insurers within 48 hours of admission. Utilization reviews can begin after day 7 of treatment. The policy change directly affects individuals seeking these treatments through these specific insurance programs.
