Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 18, 2025

H 1234: An Act relative to pharmacy benefit managers

This bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to pass at least 80% of estimated rebates from drug manufacturers to insured patients by reducing their out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter. It directly affects patients (who see lower immediate costs) and PBMs (who must adjust pricing and report compliance). Key provisions include annual reporting to the state commissioner, strict confidentiality rules preventing PBMs from disclosing rebate details (treating them as trade secrets), and penalties for noncompliance (up to $5,000 daily). The law aims to make rebate savings more transparent and directly benefit patients through reduced prescription costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to improve drug cost transparency and patient access, aligning with healthcare support indicators like reducing barriers to medication coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 22, 2025

S 363: An Act increasing access to emergency diabetes management medication

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 363) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation relative to the administration of diabetes medication. Education.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly increases access to emergency diabetes medication, improving patient access to critical healthcare treatment.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1253: An Act relative to insurance coverage for certain surgeries

This bill (HD 428) requires all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Massachusetts to cover "excess skin removal surgical procedures." It directly affects: 1) Active and retired Commonwealth employees (via Chapter 32A amendments), 2) All health insurance policies in Massachusetts (across Chapters 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G). Key provisions mandate that insurance plans must provide this coverage without additional restrictions, applying to both individual and group plans. The bill does not define "excess skin removal" but requires coverage for the specified surgical procedures in all applicable policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for specific excess skin removal surgeries, expanding patient access to covered medical procedures under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 22, 2025

S 441: An Act ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 441) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates mental health supports in K-12 schools, directly enhancing student well-being and program quality within the education topic area.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health supports in K-12 schools, directly expanding access to mental health services under healthcare topic95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 20, 2026

H 1359: An Act relative to capping the price of epinephrine

This bill (HD 2903) requires health insurance plans to cover epinephrine autoinjectors for anaphylaxis treatment with specific cost limits. It mandates that coverage for one brand-name or generic epinephrine autoinjector (sold as a two-pack) cannot include deductibles or co-insurance, and co-payments must not exceed $60. The law directly affects individuals with severe allergies requiring emergency epinephrine treatment, ensuring predictable out-of-pocket costs for this critical medication. It amends multiple sections of health insurance law to explicitly include anaphylaxis as a covered condition and set the $60 co-pay cap.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCapping epinephrine prices directly improves patient access to affordable emergency care, addressing a critical healthcare affordability issue for allergy patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 683: An Act relative to special education health care costs

This bill requires health insurance policies (both group and individual) to cover medically necessary special education services, including those outlined in a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). School districts must obtain annual written parental consent before billing insurance for these services, while informing families about potential premium increases or costs like deductibles. Crucially, districts cannot deny, delay, or withhold required special education services if families refuse to authorize insurance billing or if insurers deny coverage. The bill also mandates strict privacy protections, limiting disclosure of student health information to only what's necessary for insurance coverage decisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill addresses special education health care costs, indicating financial support for educational services within K-12 systems.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses special education health care costs, implying funding or support for related services within the healthcare topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2213: An Act relative to treatment for substance use disorder

This bill modifies state law to allow hospital physicians to temporarily restrain and initiate a 3-day treatment period for patients who have recently had a substance use evaluation (within seven days) and then return with an opiate overdose or after receiving naloxone. The treatment must occur at a facility authorized by the Department of Public Health or Department of Mental Health. It specifically applies to individuals with opiate-related incidents meeting these criteria, requiring the evaluation to have occurred within the prior week. The provision aims to streamline immediate access to care for those experiencing acute opiate-related emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly focuses on expanding treatment access for substance use disorder, directly strengthening mental health and addiction healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 29, 2026

S 1402: An Act ensuring access to addiction services

By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1402) of Cindy F. Friedman for legislation to ensure access to addiction services. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly ensures access to addiction services under mental health/substance use, directly advancing patient access to healthcare services in this topic area.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 8, 2026

S 1387: An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1387) of John J. Cronin, Steven George Xiarhos, Bruce E. Tarr and John F. Keenan relative to authorizing physician assistants to issue psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables physician assistants to issue psychiatric holds, expanding mental health access and requiring training to ensure proper use under mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2199: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

HD 2149 requires mental health professionals and police to first explore community-based crisis alternatives - like Mobile Crisis Intervention, Behavioral Health Urgent Care, or peer-run programs - before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The bill mandates that if a community alternative exists and the person consents, professionals must arrange transport to that option instead of hospitalization. It also requires the state department to collect and annually report demographic data (including age, race, and diagnosis) on all involuntary hospitalization applications to legislative committees. This policy directly affects people in mental health crises and the clinicians/police officers who determine their care pathways.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnds unnecessary involuntary hospitalizations in mental health care, protecting patient rights and supporting appropriate treatment access per bill's focus on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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