Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1262: An Act to preserve community pharmacies

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 830) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to preserve community pharmacies by conducting audits on contracts for pharmacy services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePreserves community pharmacies through contract audits, ensuring continued access to medication services and protecting essential healthcare infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4026: An Act relating to threats of suicide while in court custody (Stavri’s Law)

This bill, "Stavri’s Law," requires courts to keep mental health examination and commitment records private, except for specific disclosures. It mandates that courts share limited information with licensing authorities (for firearm background checks), the FBI (for national background checks), and law enforcement (about suicide risk in custody), but only when required by law for those purposes. Crucially, it prohibits sharing records solely because someone sought voluntary treatment or was hospitalized for evaluation. The law affects courts, individuals in mental health proceedings, and law enforcement agencies receiving targeted risk information. It changes how courts handle privacy and data sharing for mental health cases in court custody.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendants' mental health privacy in court custody, preventing unnecessary disclosure that could harm legal proceedings. Aligns with civil rights protections in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects mental health patient privacy by restricting unnecessary record disclosures, supporting confidentiality in healthcare services per bill's privacy safeguards for voluntary treatment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Mental Health

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 866: An Act relative to cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with an acquired brain injury

HD 866 requires health insurance plans covering Commonwealth employees (active and retired) and other health benefit plans to provide comprehensive coverage for cognitive rehabilitation treatments related to acquired brain injury (ABI). The bill mandates coverage for specific therapies including cognitive rehabilitation, neurocognitive therapy, community reintegration services, and neurofeedback therapy without lifetime or unreasonable annual limits. Insurers must cover these treatments regardless of facility type (e.g., not just hospitals) and cannot apply stricter cost-sharing (like higher deductibles or copays) than for other medical benefits. This law also requires insurers to train staff on these benefits in consultation with the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive insurance coverage for cognitive rehab therapies without limits, expanding access to ABI treatment under healthcare coverage policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2954: An Act relative to creating intensive stabilization and treatment units within the Department of Mental Health

This bill creates two specialized mental health units within the Department of Mental Health: one for men and one for women. It targets patients with persistent aggression, self-destructive behavior, or severe violence requiring specialized care. The units must provide comprehensive services including behavioral assessments, crisis management, and psychiatric treatment, staffed by trained professionals like psychiatrists and social workers. Patients must be transferred to appropriate care once stabilized, with clear discharge planning.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates specialized mental health units with comprehensive services, expanding access to treatment for severe cases under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2545: An Act establishing the public higher education contingent faculty reform pilot program

HD 2545 establishes a 3-year pilot program at three selected public Massachusetts colleges (one community college, one state university, and one UMass campus) to improve working conditions for contingent faculty - part-time instructors paid per course without tenure-track status. The program tests specific reforms including two career advancement tiers with clear promotion paths, earlier course assignments, shared office space, and limited benefits like pro-rated health insurance for those teaching 50%+ of full-time load. Each participating institution must provide 25% matching funds and share implementation findings, while an oversight committee evaluates metrics like faculty retention, cost impacts, and scalability. The pilot, funded initially with up to $2 million annually, concludes with final recommendations by December 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes pilot program to improve working conditions for contingent faculty in higher education, including career advancement and benefits, supporting educators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds pro-rated health insurance benefits for contingent faculty, expanding coverage access within higher education workforce policies90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill improves contingent faculty working conditions via career paths, earlier scheduling, shared space, and pro-rated health benefits - directly advancing employment standards and worker benefits for a specific workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SD 146: An Act relative to cannabis use by first responders

This bill directs Massachusetts' Cannabis Control Commission to study barriers preventing first responders (like police and emergency personnel) from legally using cannabis, including drug testing policies, agency rules, federal law conflicts, and cannabis' potential for treating trauma-related conditions. The study will examine current policies in other states, treatment efficacy for mental health issues, and legal implications under federal law. It requires a detailed report to multiple legislative committees by December 2026. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates research to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStudies cannabis' potential for treating trauma-related mental health conditions, supporting mental health treatment options within first responder healthcare policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2595: An Act ensuring efficient and effective implementation of behavioral health reform

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1394) of Julian Cyr for legislation to ensure efficient and effective implementation of behavioral health reform. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly focuses on behavioral health reform implementation, directly supporting mental health and substance use recovery services per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3572: An Act establishing a Naloxone Purchase Trust fund

HD 3572 establishes a dedicated Naloxone Purchase Trust Fund in Massachusetts to cover the costs of purchasing and distributing naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal drug) statewide. The fund will be financed through state transfers, voluntary contributions from third-party payers (like insurers), and interest earnings, and must be used exclusively for naloxone distribution to hospitals, emergency departments, substance use disorder treatment facilities, and community health centers. Naloxone must be offered to patients with a history of opioid use, an opioid use disorder diagnosis, or a prior opioid overdose. The bill ensures funds are managed transparently, with annual reports to legislative committees, and limits non-purchase costs (like storage) to 10% of the fund's total allocation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates dedicated fund for naloxone distribution to hospitals/health facilities, directly improving access to opioid overdose reversal treatment and supporting public health initiatives within healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 241: An Act to transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health

This bill transfers operation of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health. It directly affects patients at the hospital, who will now receive care under the Mental Health Department's oversight instead of Corrections. Key provisions include removing all references to the hospital's "medical director" from existing laws, creating a new forensic mental health division within Mental Health, and updating procedures for patient commitments and transfers. The transfer must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTransfers mental health care oversight from Corrections to Mental Health, aligning with reform goals by addressing root causes of justice involvement rather than punitive oversight.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill transfers mental health hospital from Corrections to Mental Health Department, aligning care with appropriate oversight. Directly supports mental health services by improving patient care under dedicated mental health authority.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1323: An Act for supportive care for serious mental illness

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 709) of John J. Cronin for legislation relative to supportive care for serious mental illness. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directly establishes supportive care for serious mental illness, advancing mental health services under healthcare policy as specified in topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track