Healthcare (Insurance)

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4942: An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors

This bill (H 4942) expands the definition of "licensed mental health professional" in five Massachusetts statutes to include licensed rehabilitation counselors. It directly affects rehabilitation counselors by recognizing them as qualified providers under existing laws governing insurance, healthcare services, and professional scope. The key mechanism adds "licensed rehabilitation counselor" to the list of covered professionals in sections related to mental health services, insurance coverage, and healthcare financing. This change aims to increase consumer access to rehabilitation counseling services by ensuring they are included in the same legal framework as other mental health professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands insurance coverage to include licensed rehabilitation counselors, improving patient access to mental health services as defined in Massachusetts statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Insurance Mental Health

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 5610: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for responding to recent federal actions

This bill primarily allocates funding for Massachusetts state operations in fiscal year 2026, including $12.3 million for indigent legal services and $300 million for group health insurance. It also includes significant policy changes: it removes a citizenship application requirement for financial assistance programs and adds privacy protections for applicant information. Most notably, Section 5 creates new rules for child care settings, requiring law enforcement to obtain a judicial warrant before entering licensed child care centers, family child care homes, or school-aged programs for immigration enforcement. These rules mandate that staff verify warrants, obtain director approval before allowing entry, and limit access to areas without children. The policy directly affects child care providers and law enforcement interactions within these facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $12.3M for indigent legal services and $300M for group health insurance, directly funding public services through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates $12.3M for indigent legal services, directly supporting defendants' access to counsel in criminal cases.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $300M for group health insurance, removes citizenship barriers for financial assistance, and adds privacy protections - expanding access and strengthening coverage.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves citizenship requirement for financial assistance and adds privacy protections, increasing immigrant access to state services while limiting data sharing with federal enforcement.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly adds privacy protections for applicant information, directly advancing data privacy - a core component of technology policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Insurance Citizenship & Naturalization Enforcement

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4897: An Act improving access to community behavioral health centers

H 4897 requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover "behavioral health bundled services" from licensed community behavioral health centers on equal terms. This applies to group insurance for Commonwealth employees (active and retired), individual accident/sickness policies, hospital service plans, and health maintenance contracts. The bill mandates that these plans provide nondiscriminatory coverage for medically necessary mental health, developmental, or substance use disorder care delivered through defined community centers. It directly affects insured individuals and insurers by standardizing coverage requirements across multiple insurance types. The law applies to policies issued or renewed within or outside Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for behavioral health services, expanding access to mental health care under Massachusetts law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Mental Health

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 4936: An Act to improve child and adolescent mental health services

This bill (H 4936) standardizes the definition of "licensed mental health professional" across multiple Massachusetts health care statutes. It explicitly includes psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, nurse specialists, and educational psychologists within their scope of practice. The change applies to laws governing mental health services, insurance coverage, and health care financing (specifically Chapters 32A, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G). This procedural update ensures consistent terminology for providers and services, directly affecting how mental health care is regulated and accessed in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStandardizes mental health professional scope, expands coverage under insurance/financing statutes, directly improving access to services for children/adolescents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Insurance Mental Health

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 27, 2026

H 4957: An Act relative to IUD pain management coverage

This bill requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover pain management during IUD insertion with no out-of-pocket costs for patients. It applies to state employee group insurance (Chapter 32A), Medicaid plans (Chapter 118E), private accident/sickness insurance (Chapter 175), and hospital service plans (Chapter 176A). The law mandates coverage for specific methods like IV sedation, nitrous oxide, or topical anesthesia without deductibles, copays, or unreasonable delays, and extends benefits to covered spouses and dependents. Religious exemptions for church employers are included, requiring written notice to enrollees about excluded services. The bill directly affects insurance providers and enrollees using these coverage types for IUD procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for IUD pain management, expanding access to reproductive healthcare services without financial barriers or delays.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 7, 2026

H 4881: An Act relative to adjunct faculty in public higher education

This bill requires the state to cover health insurance premiums for qualifying adjunct faculty at public higher education institutions. It defines eligible faculty as those teaching at least two 3-credit courses per semester (or four annually), regardless of funding source or employment term. The state will gradually increase its share of premium costs over five years, starting at 25% in the first year and reaching 75% by the sixth year. A working group must study adjunct faculty retirement benefits, compensation, and career pathways, reporting findings by December 2026. The bill directly affects adjunct faculty at state universities, community colleges, and UMass campuses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates state funding for adjunct faculty health insurance premiums, expanding coverage access through direct subsidy of premiums.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides state-funded health insurance for adjunct faculty, expanding employment benefits and protecting workers' rights through mandatory coverage for eligible staff.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 23, 2026

H 4959: An Act relative to health insurance coverage for hearing aids

This bill requires most health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover hearing aids for insured residents. It mandates coverage for one hearing aid per hearing-impaired ear every 36 months, based on a physician's written statement of medical necessity, with coverage extending to the best-fit device (regardless of brand) and related services like fittings, adjustments, and repairs. The law caps patient copayments at $200 per hearing aid and prohibits higher deductibles or out-of-pocket costs than for other durable medical equipment. It applies to all group and individual health insurance policies, including non-group plans, ensuring consistent coverage for people with hearing loss.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids with cost caps, expanding access and protecting patients from high out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 4896: An Act for supportive care for serious mental illness

H 4896 requires qualifying student health insurance plans to cover two specific mental health treatment programs: "Coordinated Specialty Care" for first-time psychosis (within 74 weeks) and "Assertive Community Treatment" for serious mental illness or emotional disturbance. It directly affects young people under 19 with serious emotional disturbance and adults 19+ with serious mental illness by mandating insurance coverage for these services without visit limits. Key provisions include requiring insurers to pay for these treatments through a bundled payment model (not per-service fees) and presuming medical necessity after a licensed professional's recommendation. The bill defines these terms to ensure consistent coverage under state insurance regulations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for two mental health programs without visit limits, expanding access for youth and adults with serious mental illness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4940: An Act to redirect excessive health insurer reserves to support health care safety net programs

This bill requires health insurers with reserves exceeding 550% of risk-based capital to pay an assessment generating $400 million total. The funds are split equally: $200 million goes to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund (supporting community health programs) and $200 million to the Medicaid Stabilization Trust Fund (preventing access cuts for MassHealth beneficiaries). The assessment applies to insurers meeting specific reserve thresholds set by the Division of Insurance, with enforcement mechanisms including interest charges for late payments. The program expires on December 31, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes assessment on insurers to generate $400M funding for health safety net and Medicaid programs, directly increasing public service funding through targeted revenue.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects insurer reserves to Health Safety Net and Medicaid Stabilization Trust Funds, increasing funding for community health programs and preventing access cuts for MassHealth beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4948: An Act to further enhance rate review examinations conducted by the health care access bureau within the division of insurance

H 4948 creates a dedicated Health Care Access Bureau within Massachusetts' Division of Insurance to strengthen oversight of health insurance rates. The bureau, led by a deputy commissioner, will review premium rates for all health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts, focusing on consumer affordability (including deductibles and out-of-pocket costs), fairness for providers, and alignment with state healthcare cost growth goals. It requires insurers to pay an annual assessment totaling $2 million to fund the bureau's operations, including hiring specialized staff like a chief health economist and chief actuary. The bill directly affects all health insurers licensed in Massachusetts by requiring them to submit rate data for review and pay new funding assessments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated bureau to review insurance rates for consumer affordability (deductibles/out-of-pocket costs), strengthening oversight to improve healthcare access and cost transparency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track