Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 782: An Act to strengthen the state home care program workforce

This bill requires home care agencies providing state-funded home care services to enter into labor peace agreements with labor organizations representing their workers, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. Agencies must submit regular attestations to the Department of Elder Affairs detailing their labor relations status, including whether agreements exist, negotiations are underway, or no union representation is sought. Failure to comply may result in contract termination and a four-year ban on future state contracts for repeated violations. The policy directly affects home care agencies, workers, and the state's home care program participants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to strengthen home care workforce, directly advancing healthcare service delivery (H 782).95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to 'strengthen' the home care program workforce, aligning with advancing worker protections and program funding in labor/employment context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 8, 2025

H 2704: An Act relative to the postpartum treatment of women in correctional facilities

HD 826 requires correctional facilities to keep incarcerated women in the hospital after childbirth until two medical professionals approve discharge: the attending physician must certify the mother's safety, and the infant's pediatrician must confirm the baby has had sufficient time with the mother (up to a maximum of 72 hours) to ensure the infant's health. This bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women in state correctional facilities and their newborn infants. The key provision replaces the previous language with a specific 72-hour maximum stay requirement tied to medical assessments for both mother and infant. The law aims to ensure both the mother's and infant's health are medically verified before transfer back to the facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates postpartum care for women in correctional facilities, improving healthcare conditions within the corrections system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires postpartum healthcare for incarcerated women, expanding access to essential medical services in correctional facilities95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 171: An Act to support maternal health

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 171) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to support maternal health by providing financial assistance to an eligible pregnant person. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides financial assistance for maternal health, directly funding healthcare access for pregnant people through targeted support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 2, 2026

H 4258: An Act relative to allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers

By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Adam J. Scanlon for legislation to authorize spouses to serve as caregivers in the MassHealth program for home-based care and services. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands MassHealth home care access by authorizing spouses as paid caregivers, directly improving patient access to covered services under public health program.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 2073: An Act to prohibit mandatory overtime

This bill prohibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers in specific Massachusetts facilities, including hospitals and certain correctional facilities (excluding long-term care and most correctional settings). It allows overtime only during true emergencies with no reasonable alternatives, requires facilities to seek voluntary coverage first, and limits consecutive work to 16 hours with 8 hours off afterward. Facilities must report all mandatory overtime use to health authorities, and workers cannot face retaliation for refusing overtime beyond these limits. The law directly affects nurses, support staff, and other healthcare personnel in covered facilities, aiming to protect patient safety and staff well-being.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, reducing burnout and improving patient care quality - directly supports healthcare workforce stability and safety.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, directly protecting workers' rights and improving workplace safety in labor context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workforce Development

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 14, 2025

S 1487: An Act establishing the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1487) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation to establish the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to enable cross-state practice, improving mental health service access under Public Health95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 3986: An Act relative to addressing delayed patient discharges

HD 2424 requires Massachusetts health insurance companies to hire dedicated care coordinators available outside business hours to resolve discharge authorization issues and ensure timely patient releases. It mandates that insurers provide hospitals with real-time electronic access to patient insurance details and send timely updates on discharge status. Hospitals must collaborate with insurers using these platforms, while non-compliant insurers face fines up to $10,000 per violation and public reporting. The Department of Public Health will enforce the law, conduct compliance audits, and issue annual reports tracking delayed discharges and entity compliance rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses delayed patient discharges, improving hospital efficiency and patient access to care, aligning with healthcare service enhancement indicators.85% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 2, 2026

S 799: An Act protecting patients from surprise bills related to emergency ambulance service

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 799) of Michael O. Moore for legislation relative to ambulance service reimbursement. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patients from surprise ambulance bills, preventing financial harm and improving access to emergency care.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

H 1198: An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation

HD 1063 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to approve non-emergency medical transportation for specific care (dialysis, behavioral health, and post-acute services) with a minimum 3-business-day authorization period. It also mandates that insurers pay providers at least 2.5 times standard rates for these services, including wheelchair van transport. The bill directly affects patients needing these medical trips and ambulance/wheelchair service providers who receive reimbursement. Additionally, it directs the health policy commission to study reimbursement rates for non-emergency transport, including workforce impacts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation, directly advancing healthcare access as per indicators.95% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 16, 2025

H 2393: An Act authorizing Massachusetts entry into the interstate medical licensure compact

HD 3377 would allow Massachusetts to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling physicians to more easily obtain licenses to practice medicine in multiple participating states. It directly affects licensed physicians seeking to practice across state lines, particularly those with a primary license in Massachusetts. The key mechanism creates an "expedited license" pathway: physicians designate Massachusetts as their "state of principal license" (based on residence, practice location, or employer), and the compact streamlines verification of their credentials across member states. Crucially, the bill specifies that physicians must follow the medical licensing rules of the state where the patient is located during any encounter, while preserving each state's full authority to discipline licenses under their own Medical Practice Act. This aims to improve healthcare access without altering existing state licensure standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state medical licensure, improving provider access to patients under Public Health framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track