Healthcare

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1805: An Act relative to health care quality for children and youth

This bill requires health care services for children and youth to meet or exceed pediatric community standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, including preventative care, health promotion, and continuity of care. It directly affects children in the state's care and custody by mandating these standards for both physical and mental health services. The bill also requires the department to monitor and enforce medical contracts to improve access and quality of care for these children. Key provisions include specific standards from the American Academy of Pediatrics and enhanced oversight of medical contracts for children under state care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates pediatric standards for preventative care, continuity, and mental health services; requires department monitoring to improve access and quality of care for children.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3312: An Act relative to insurer responsibility to the operating budgets of health care oversight entities

This bill requires healthcare entities - including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and pharmacy benefit managers - to pay a surcharge toward funding two oversight bodies: the Health Policy Commission and the Center for Health Information and Analysis. The surcharge must be 30% to 40% of the state’s annual budget for these entities, minus revenues already collected from fees or federal funds. It specifies that payments must follow existing financial transfer rules (sections 64 and 66 of Chapter 118E) and cannot fall below established revenue thresholds. The bill directly affects covered healthcare providers and insurers by adding a new cost to their operating expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes mandatory 30-40% surcharge on healthcare entities to fund oversight bodies, directly increasing state revenue for fiscal management per bill's funding mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare entities to fund oversight bodies via 30-40% surcharge, strengthening regulatory oversight and public health program support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Prescription Drugs

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1538: An Act preserving essential services in our hospitals

This bill requires hospitals to notify the state health department 90 days before closing or discontinuing any essential health service. The department must define "essential health service" through regulations and hold public hearings if a hospital proposes to stop such a service. If the department determines the service is necessary for community health access, the hospital cannot discontinue it for three years. The law directly affects hospitals and the state health department, aiming to protect critical medical services from abrupt cuts. It creates a formal review process to prevent unnecessary closures of vital hospital services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents hospitals from discontinuing essential health services without state approval, ensuring continued community health access and protecting patient services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 831: An Act to reduce inequities in access to medical procedures

This bill prohibits health insurance companies from reducing payments to healthcare providers for evaluation services or procedures when those providers also bill for other covered services (like minor surgery) on the same day. It directly affects doctors, clinics, and hospitals that provide multiple services during a single patient visit. The key mechanism voids any contract terms allowing insurers to cut payments solely because multiple services were billed together. This aims to ensure fair reimbursement for providers serving patients, particularly in settings where bundled care is common.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from reducing payments for multiple services on same day, ensuring fair reimbursement and improving access to medical procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1965: An Act requiring full health insurance coverage for individuals with vitiligo

This bill (HD 1965) would require all health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover treatment for vitiligo as a chronic autoimmune disease, including mental health services related to the condition. It directly affects individuals with vitiligo who have health insurance through the state's group insurance program, Medicaid managed care plans, or private health insurance policies. The law mandates that coverage must be provided for both physical treatments and mental health care connected to vitiligo, applying to all health insurance policies sold or renewed in Massachusetts. This change would ensure consistent coverage for vitiligo treatment across public and private insurance plans without requiring separate applications or approvals for this specific condition.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates full insurance coverage for vitiligo treatment including mental health services, expanding access and protecting patient rights for a chronic condition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3226: An Act to advance health equity

This bill (HD 3226) creates a new "Secretary of Equity" position within state government and adds "health equity" as a core requirement across health-related laws. It defines "priority populations" as groups disproportionately affected by health disparities and mandates that health agencies incorporate health equity into all decisions, including requiring a "chief health equity officer" (Section 8). The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for health care spending trends, including data on health inequities (Section 17), and sets aggregate expenditure targets for primary care and behavioral health services (Section 9A). It directly affects state health agencies, healthcare providers, and priority populations by requiring systemic changes to address health disparities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health equity integration across agencies, creates new equity roles, and requires reporting to address disparities in care access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 992: An Act to establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund

SD 992 creates a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund to address shortages in mental and behavioral health providers specializing in perinatal care (during pregnancy and up to one year after birth). The fund provides grants to organizations for training programs aimed at growing and diversifying this workforce, with priority given to programs serving medically underserved populations or areas with racial, geographic, or health outcome disparities. Grantees must report annually on grant recipients, participant demographics (including race, gender, and zip code), and how programs impact workforce sustainability and healthcare shortages. This bill directly affects perinatal health providers and the communities they serve, particularly those facing systemic healthcare gaps.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates trust fund for perinatal mental health workforce training, prioritizing underserved populations. Directly funds expansion of mental health services access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Women's Health

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1895: An Act to facilitate timely access to quality health care by expanding access to patient navigation

HD 1895 requires health insurers, Medicaid, and managed care organizations to cover "patient navigation services" provided by certified community health workers. These services help patients access care by addressing barriers like language, health literacy, or social needs - such as screening for chronic diseases, connecting to social services, and supporting treatment adherence. The bill mandates reimbursement for certified workers and sets a 2026 implementation date for all new or renewed contracts. It directly affects community health workers, health insurers, and patients eligible for preventive care or treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers/Medicaid to cover patient navigation services, addressing barriers like language and social needs to improve care access and treatment adherence, directly expanding coverage and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 924: An Act ensuring equal access to medical treatments essential for people with a developmental disability, intellectual disability, or autism

SD 924 requires state health coverage to pay for medically necessary habilitative and rehabilitative treatments for adults aged 21+ with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder. The bill mandates coverage for treatments like applied behavior analysis (provided by licensed professionals) and both dedicated and non-dedicated communication devices (including medically necessary tablets). Coverage applies only to individuals already receiving state health coverage under Chapter 118E, with diagnoses confirmed by licensed physicians or psychologists. This policy change directly expands access to essential, evidence-based care for a specific group of adults with qualifying disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates state health coverage for habilitative/rehabilitative treatments (e.g., ABA, communication devices) for developmental/disability conditions, expanding essential healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 3, 2025

HD 4024: 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 constitutional right to healthcare, directly advancing patient access and rights per title/summary.95% confidence

Track