Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1246: An Act establishing a public health option

By Representative Lewis of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1246) of Jack Patrick Lewis that the Commonwealth Connector Authority provide for a public health insurance option. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a public health insurance option to expand coverage through Commonwealth Connector Authority, directly advancing healthcare access and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 28, 2026

H 1313: An Act relating to patient choice in dispensing of clinician-administered drugs

This bill (HD 2922) ensures patients have choice when receiving certain outpatient drugs that require clinical administration (like IV treatments), directly affecting patients and healthcare providers. It prohibits health insurance companies from refusing payment, charging extra fees, or penalizing patients when they choose to get these drugs from their preferred provider (e.g., a doctor's office) or pharmacy - not just a plan-selected pharmacy. The law also blocks insurers from steering patients toward specific pharmacies or requiring specialty pharmacies to deliver drugs directly to patients for later administration by a provider. Insurance companies may offer home infusion options but cannot mandate them. This creates a clear standard for coverage without extra costs for patient-selected care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes patient autonomy in drug dispensing, enhancing access to clinician-administered treatments without restricting options or coverage.90% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 28, 2026

H 1240: An Act relative to insulin access

This bill caps out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 per 30-day supply for all patients, regardless of insulin type or quantity needed. It directly affects insulin users, drug manufacturers, and insurers by requiring them to limit patient costs. Drug companies must offer free 30-day insulin supplies to eligible individuals urgently needing insulin (with less than a 7-day supply) who meet income limits (≤400% federal poverty level) and lack private drug coverage. The law also mandates manufacturers to establish accessible application processes for this assistance program within 14 days.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directly addresses insulin access, improving patient access to essential medication and aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1241: An Act relative to fair access for qualifying patients

HD 115 (An Act relative to fair access for qualifying patients) requires health insurance plans regulated in Massachusetts to reimburse healthcare providers who certify patients for medical cannabis use under Chapter 94I. It also allows these plans to include medical cannabis in their coverage formularies, provided it is listed on specific schedules within the state's Drug Control Program. This bill directly affects medical cannabis patients and healthcare providers who certify their use, as it creates a reimbursement pathway and expands coverage options. The key mechanism ensures providers can be paid for certifications and gives plans the option to cover cannabis as a medical treatment, subject to state drug scheduling rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures reimbursement eligibility for qualifying patients, expanding access to health plans and improving coverage under healthcare access policies.90% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1192: An Act for health care non-discrimination

By Representative Honan of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1192) of Kevin G. Honan relative to establishing alternative payment arrangements to promote health care non-discrimination. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes healthcare non-discrimination via alternative payment arrangements, directly aligning with protecting patient rights and access under healthcare policy indicators.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House May 11, 2026

H 1188: An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access

This bill, HD 1500, requires health insurance providers, health care plans, and related entities to accept a single written verification from a health care provider for gender-affirming care. It prohibits them from rejecting such verification unless it clearly fails to meet established clinical guidelines, and prevents them from demanding more than one verification for treatment of gender dysphoria. The bill defines "qualified mental health care professional" using standards from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). It directly affects transgender individuals seeking health coverage for gender-affirming care and the insurers/health plans that process those requests. The policy change removes bureaucratic barriers to accessing medically necessary care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly seeks healthcare coverage for gender affirming care, expanding access to a specific health service within the healthcare topic.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 14, 2025

H 64: Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution for a Constitutional right to health care

By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by proposal for constitutional amendment, House, No. 64) of Vincent Lawrence Dixon for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to establish a right to health care. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly proposes a constitutional right to healthcare, advancing patient access and protecting healthcare as a fundamental right per title and summary.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1736: An Act relative to determining capacity and invoking the health care proxy

This bill amends Massachusetts law (Chapter 201D) to update terminology related to healthcare decision-making. It replaces "attending physician" with "attending health care provider" throughout the law, explicitly including nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists as qualified decision-makers. This change directly affects patients who have designated a health care proxy, clarifying that their primary care provider (not limited to physicians) can legally act under the proxy. The key mechanism is a consistent terminology update across multiple sections of the law to reflect modern healthcare team structures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies health care proxy procedures to protect patient decision-making rights, aligning with patient rights support in healthcare policy.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 4013: An Act to improve healthcare and reduce consumer costs

This bill prohibits new for-profit hospitals, clinics, and health insurance companies from obtaining licenses in Massachusetts. Specifically, it bans new for-profit acute care hospitals (Section 2), for-profit ambulatory surgery clinics (Section 1), and for-profit health insurance companies (Section 3) from operating within the state. The law applies only to new licenses - not existing for-profit facilities - and takes effect 18 months after enactment. It directly affects healthcare providers and insurers seeking to establish new for-profit operations in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill title explicitly states 'improve healthcare and reduce consumer costs', directly aligning with support indicators for advancing healthcare access and affordability.90% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1204: An Act establishing pregnancy as a qualifying event

This bill adds pregnancy as a qualifying event for special enrollment in Massachusetts' state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. It allows pregnant individuals to enroll in a health plan within 30 days of pregnancy start (with certification from a licensed healthcare provider) and requires coverage to be effective the first day of the following month. The change directly affects pregnant people seeking health insurance, removing typical enrollment barriers during pregnancy. Coverage must begin no later than the first day of the month after certification is received. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes pregnancy as a qualifying event for special enrollment in health plans, expanding access to coverage during pregnancy per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track