Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate May 18, 2026

S 1502: An Act relative to removing barriers to care for physician assistants

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1502) of Julian Cyr, Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation to remove barriers to care for physician assistants. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves barriers for physician assistants, expanding access to healthcare services and improving patient care delivery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 2, 2026

S 690: An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 690) of Brendan P. Crighton, Marcus S. Vaughn, Steven George Xiarhos, Paul K. Frost and other members of the General Court for legislation to mandate access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates cancer screening access for firefighters via employer health plans, expanding preventive care access under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates cancer screenings for firefighters via public employer health plans, directly enhancing workplace safety protections for a high-risk occupation.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 708: An Act preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 708) of John J. Cronin for legislation to preserve access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly preserves access to mental health treatment, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 8, 2026

H 1276: An Act improving access to community behavioral health centers

This bill requires health plans in Massachusetts to cover "behavioral health bundled services" provided by licensed community behavioral health centers (CBHCs) on a nondiscriminatory basis. It applies to Commonwealth employees (active/retired) and all insured individuals covered under group or individual health insurance policies, including hospital/surgical plans and health maintenance contracts. The law defines CBHCs as DPH-licensed clinics and specifies that covered services include mental health, developmental, and substance use disorder care delivered through a flat-rate billing model per encounter. The key mechanism ensures these services are treated equally with other medical benefits in insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly improves access to behavioral health services through expanded coverage, directly supporting mental health care access as per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 9, 2026

H 1193: An Act relative to requiring insurance providers cover a minimum of 30 days for in-patient substance abuse treatment

HD 623 requires insurance companies to cover at least 30 days of in-patient treatment for substance abuse disorders, increasing the current minimum from 14 days. The bill directly affects individuals seeking substance abuse treatment and insurance providers operating under Massachusetts law. It amends multiple sections of the state’s insurance statutes (including chapters 32A, 118E, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G) to replace the figure "14" with "30" in coverage requirements. This is a concrete policy change to expand mandated treatment duration, without altering other insurance terms or creating new programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 30-day minimum coverage for in-patient substance abuse treatment, expanding insurance coverage for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 756: An Act expanding insurance coverage for hearing aids and related services

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 756) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to expand insurance coverage for hearing aids and related services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands insurance coverage for hearing aids, directly advancing patient access to essential health services and aligning with healthcare funding/support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2387: An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of nursing staff

This bill establishes a Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) through Massachusetts' Department of Public Health to address nursing staff shortages. It provides full tuition coverage for up to four years to students enrolled in accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs within Massachusetts, contingent on committing to two years of full-time work at a Massachusetts healthcare facility after graduation. The program aims to increase nursing workforce stability by reducing educational barriers and encouraging retention in the state's healthcare system. It directly affects nursing students seeking degrees and healthcare institutions needing qualified staff. The program requires annual reporting on participation and outcomes to evaluate effectiveness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directly targets nursing staff shortages to improve healthcare access and services, aligning with support indicators for workforce expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to improve nursing staff availability, directly supporting health care workers' employment conditions by addressing staffing levels to enhance workplace safety and reduce burnout.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2472: An Act protecting patient safety regarding non-FDA approved drugs

HD 1476 prohibits retail pharmacies from reselling custom-made compounded medications (prepared for individual patients per prescription) and requires these drugs to be dispensed only to the specific patient for whom they were compounded. The bill mandates specific labeling requirements, including "not for resale" or "office use only" statements, and detailed information like ingredients, expiration dates, and handling instructions. It directly affects retail pharmacies and outsourcing facilities that prepare compounded drugs, subjecting violations to disciplinary actions by the state Pharmacy Board. The law aims to prevent unsafe distribution by restricting resale and ensuring proper labeling for patient safety.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient safety regarding non-FDA approved compounded medications, directly advancing healthcare safety standards in public health.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2404: An Act relative to increased availability of opioid antagonist medication

This bill (HD 2114) requires all state government agencies and boards to stock naloxone (opioid antagonist medication) and train employees annually on its use. It also directs the state department to issue nonbinding guidance encouraging private employers to do the same. The law directly affects state agencies by mandating naloxone availability and training, while private businesses receive voluntary recommendations. Key provisions focus on expanding access to life-saving medication through mandatory state action and advisory steps for private sector adoption. The bill aims to increase naloxone readiness across public and private settings without imposing new costs on businesses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases availability of opioid antagonists (naloxone) for overdose reversal, directly improving emergency access to life-saving healthcare services in public health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 1394: An Act relative to family members serving as caregivers

This bill expands eligibility for paid caregiving under MassHealth's home and community-based services program. It directly affects legally liable family members (including parents, guardians, adult children, and others with legal responsibility) who currently may be excluded from being paid caregivers. The key provision amends the law to explicitly include these individuals within the definition of "family member" for payment purposes, removing barriers imposed by existing statutes. MassHealth must then file a required state plan amendment or waiver to implement this change. The policy change modifies program eligibility rules without altering funding or creating new services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses family caregivers within Health Care Financing, supporting caregiver inclusion in healthcare system structure and access.85% confidence

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