Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 873: An Act relative to hospital closures and health planning

This bill establishes a new Health Planning Council within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to develop and update a statewide health plan every two years. The council, including state agency leaders and governor-appointed members, must assess regional healthcare needs across 15 planning areas using data on chronic disease, population, and resources, while requiring public input through hearings and online comments. It strengthens oversight of hospital closures by mandating hospitals report proposed closures to the Department of Public Health, triggering a review by the Health Policy Commission, and requires the Center for Health Information and Analysis to identify hospitals in financial distress every 120 days. These provisions directly affect hospitals, healthcare providers, state agencies, and the public by creating structured processes for planning, transparency, and intervention around hospital sustainability.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses hospital closures and health planning to maintain healthcare access and infrastructure, directly supporting patient access and facility stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 865: An Act expanding the moral obligation bond program to acute care hospitals

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 865) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to expand the moral obligation bond program to acute care hospitals. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands moral obligation bonds for acute care hospital infrastructure funding, directly advancing healthcare facility investment under Health Care Financing.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House May 22, 2025

H 1372: An Act to improve health care cost accountability

HD 3711 establishes a new metric called the "Weighted Average Payer Rate" (WAPR) to measure how much hospitals and physician groups are paid across different insurance types (Commercial, Medicare, Medicaid). It requires hospitals and physician organizations to report their WAPR annually, calculated by weighting revenue per service (inpatient and outpatient) by their actual payer mix. The data must be included in annual reports to the health commission, which will use it during public hearings to analyze cost trends and reimbursement levels across the health care system. This bill directly affects hospitals, physician groups, and the health commission by mandating transparency in payment rates for cost accountability purposes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to improve healthcare cost accountability, suggesting efficiency measures to strengthen system without explicit funding cuts or coverage restrictions.85% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 734: An Act ensuring access to specialty medications

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 734) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to ensure access to medications. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly ensures access to specialty medications, directly improving patient access to critical treatments under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 724: An Act promoting healthcare access and affordability for patients

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 724) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to promote healthcare access and affordability for patients. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTitle and summary explicitly promote healthcare access and affordability, directly aligning with support indicators like improving patient access and reducing costs.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 9, 2026

H 1155: An Act empowering health care consumers

This bill requires health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts to provide clear, standardized information about prescription drug coverage to consumers. It directly affects all health insurance plan members (enrollees) and potential enrollees by mandating that plans: 1) explain what a formulary is and how drugs are included/excluded, 2) post searchable formularies online with real-time updates within 72 hours of changes, and 3) disclose specific cost-sharing details (like co-pays or cost ranges) for each drug. Plans must also list prior authorization rules and show how drugs are covered under deductibles. These requirements apply to all individual and group health plans issued in Massachusetts on or after January 1, 2018.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates insurance policies to empower consumers, protecting patient rights and access per bill summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 849: An Act to ensure health care as a right

This bill (S 849) aims to establish health care as a fundamental right for all residents of the state, as proposed by Senator Julian Cyr. The official abstract states the legislation focuses on "Health Care Financing" but does not detail specific mechanisms, funding sources, or coverage requirements in the provided context. Without further information on implementation, the summary cannot describe concrete policy changes or who would be directly affected beyond the broad goal of universal coverage. Procedural details or specific provisions are not included in the abstract provided.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to establish healthcare as a fundamental right for all residents, directly advancing universal coverage and access as core healthcare policy goals.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 906: An Act relative to health care non-discrimination

SD 530 (An Act relative to health care non-discrimination) requires health insurance carriers to design payment models (like capitation or global budgets) that fairly account for patient needs, such as age, health conditions, and social factors, rather than using historical costs tied to specific providers. It prohibits carriers from basing payments on provider prices or past spending from subsets of their network. Carriers must report payment model details to the Center for Health Information and Analysis for compliance checks, and violations will be treated as unfair business practices under Chapter 93A. The bill directly affects health insurance companies and healthcare providers participating in these payment arrangements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits healthcare discrimination, directly protecting patient rights and ensuring equitable access - core support indicator for healthcare policies.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 859: An Act establishing a public health option

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 859) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish a public health option. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes public health insurance option, expanding coverage access. Directly advances healthcare access through new public plan.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate May 26, 2026

S 889: An Act relative to single payer healthcare benchmarking and reporting

By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 889) of Paul W. Mark for legislation relative to single payer healthcare benchmarking and reporting. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes benchmarking/reporting for single-payer healthcare, advancing universal coverage model.95% confidence

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