Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House May 29, 2025

H 163: An Act to Modernize the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program

By Representative Rogers of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 163) of David M. Rogers relative to the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program. Cannabis Policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes medical marijuana program, improving patient access to legal cannabis treatment as part of healthcare services.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 31, 2025

H 238: An Act to provide a pilot program for low interest loans to families with a child suffering from a terminal illness

By Representative Frost of Auburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 238) of Paul K. Frost relative to providing low interest loans to families with children suffering from terminal illnesses. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides low-interest loans for terminal illness care costs, improving access to healthcare services for affected families.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 622: An Act relative to medical records requests

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1621) of Michael F. Rush and Paul McMurtry for legislation relative to medical records requests. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFacilitates patient access to medical records, aligning with patient rights and public health under the bill's Public Health focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4212: An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment

This bill (HD 4212) creates legal protections for harm reduction programs aimed at reducing overdose deaths and improving access to treatment. It defines "harm reduction programs" to include services like needle exchanges, overdose reversal, and referrals to treatment, and grants immunity from arrest, lawsuits, and property seizures for program operators, participants, and property owners when operating under department approval. The law also prohibits searches based on program use, requires annual department reports on program effectiveness, and exempts approved programs from certain registration requirements under Chapter 94C. It directly affects program operators, people accessing services, property owners, and government employees involved in approvals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects harm reduction programs from legal penalties, reducing criminalization of drug use and advancing criminal justice reform through treatment access and immunity protections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill legalizes harm reduction services (needle exchanges, overdose reversal) to improve treatment access, directly expanding healthcare access and protecting patient services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4041: An Act to provide fair wages to employees of public institutions of higher education

HD 4041 requires the state of Massachusetts to cover the full cost of fringe benefits (including pensions and health insurance) and incremental salary increases from collective bargaining agreements for employees at public universities and colleges. It applies to faculty and staff covered by agreements with the University of Massachusetts or the Board of Higher Education, excluding grant-funded or auxiliary positions. The bill mandates that these institutions must certify each agreement will ensure average salaries for each job category reach at least the national average (adjusted for cost of living) by the contract’s end. This shifts funding responsibility from institutions to the state budget for these specific costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding for public university employee benefits and salary increases, increasing government spending on public services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding for higher education employee benefits/salary increases, directly supporting faculty/staff compensation and institutional stability in public universities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state coverage of health insurance as a fringe benefit for public higher education employees, directly expanding healthcare coverage for workers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires state funding for full fringe benefits and salary increases from collective bargaining, directly advancing worker compensation and rights for public higher education employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 2876: An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program

By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 780) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian and others that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services be authorized to establish a hospital to home partnership program. Elder Affairs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes hospital-to-home partnership program under Health and Human Services to improve patient care continuity and access for elderly populations, aligning with healthcare access indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2021: An Act relative to establishing protocols for the early detection and treatment of patients with sepsis

HD 2021 requires hospitals and licensed healthcare facilities to implement standardized protocols for detecting and treating sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. It mandates facilities to adopt evidence-based screening tools, time-specific treatment goals, nurse-driven testing, and electronic health record integration for both adult and pediatric patients. Facilities must establish multi-disciplinary committees to monitor adherence to protocols, collect quality data, and provide annual staff training on sepsis care. The Department of Public Health must issue these guidelines by September 1, 2025, with full facility compliance required by that date, effective October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates evidence-based sepsis protocols, screening tools, and treatment goals in hospitals to improve patient outcomes and care quality, directly advancing healthcare standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Healthcare Workforce Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 718: An Act eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 718) of Julian Cyr for legislation to eliminate cost sharing for substance use disorder treatment services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates cost sharing for substance use disorder treatment, improving access to behavioral health services and reducing patient financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 5, 2026

H 2169: An Act relative to worker compensation protections for certified medical cannabis patients and their caregivers

By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2169) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to worker compensation protections for certified medical cannabis patients and their caregivers. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects medical cannabis patients' access to healthcare by ensuring worker compensation coverage, aligning with 'protects patient rights' indicator.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly provides worker compensation protections for medical cannabis patients, advancing workplace rights under Labor and Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2322: An Act measuring the impact of Long COVID in the Commonwealth

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1578) of Liz Miranda for legislation to create an evidence-based culturally-specific patient navigation pilot program for people living with a Long COVID diagnosis. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates evidence-based patient navigation pilot for Long COVID, improving access to care under public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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