Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1705: An Act relative to patient care access

This bill (HD 581) revises Massachusetts medical peer review processes and malpractice lawsuit procedures. It expands the definition of "medical peer review committee" to include pharmacy quality reviews and requires healthcare groups to follow peer review standards even if not legally mandated. Insurers must annually report malpractice claim data (excluding patient/provider identifiers) to the Betsy Lehman Center for patient safety research. The bill also mandates board-certified expert witnesses in physician malpractice cases and allows courts to order periodic payments (rather than lump sums) for future damages exceeding $50,000 in qualifying cases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFocuses on patient safety, medical error reporting, and malpractice - aligning with healthcare protection and improved care access indicators without restrictions.85% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 9, 2026

H 1118: An Act relative to prior authorization requests

This bill requires health insurance plans to maintain adequate staffing during evenings, weekends, and holidays to review and respond to healthcare provider requests for prior authorization within 24 hours. It directly affects health insurance companies and healthcare providers who submit these requests for necessary patient treatments. The key provision mandates a 24-hour response window for all prior authorization requests, regardless of when they are received. This aims to reduce delays in accessing medically necessary care by standardizing response times outside typical business hours. The law applies to all health insurance plans as defined under Chapter 6D.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to ensure adequate staffing for prior authorization requests, improving patient access to timely care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 20, 2025

H 1140: An Act to remove barriers to patient care

HD 3383 allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to fulfill requirements previously limited to physicians for health insurance coverage and reimbursement. Specifically, it amends multiple chapters of Massachusetts law to permit APRNs to provide diagnostic evaluations, medical necessity determinations, prescriptions, and other services that insurers previously required to be done by physicians. The bill changes specific legal language to include "or advanced practice registered nurse" and replaces "treating physician" with "treating provider" in coverage rules. It explicitly states this change does not expand APRNs' existing scope of practice. This directly affects APRNs, healthcare providers, and insurers under Massachusetts health coverage systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to remove barriers to patient care by enabling advanced practice nurses to perform diagnostic evaluations, directly improving access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 13, 2026

H 2899: An Act relative to supporting social workers

This bill creates a stipend program for Master of Social Work (MSW) students in Massachusetts, prioritizing those from historically marginalized communities and low-income backgrounds. Students completing field placements receive monthly stipends ($1,000-$2,000) based on year of study, with requirements including a commitment to work in Massachusetts for two years post-graduation. It also makes Department of Children and Families (DCF) social workers eligible for retirement benefits starting January 2025 and establishes a commission to study a new certification for DCF child welfare workers. The program aims to increase recruitment and retention of diverse social workers while expanding job classifications and adjusting continuing education rules for the profession.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides benefits for social workers, who deliver mental health services (a healthcare component), strengthening workforce support in public health programs.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly provides benefits for social workers, advancing employment standards and worker protections per its title and summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 1406: An Act relative to the prescription monitoring program

This bill (SD 962) requires opioid treatment facilities to provide patients with a consent form explaining that sharing their opioid maintenance treatment information through the state's prescription monitoring program is optional but encouraged. It mandates that facilities document patient consent or refusal and maintain these records. The bill also directs the state department to create a process for including opioid maintenance treatment data in the prescription monitoring system, ensuring doctors can see this information before prescribing other opioids (except the maintenance medication), as long as privacy laws are respected. This directly affects opioid treatment facilities, their patients, and healthcare providers who prescribe opioids.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes prescription monitoring to prevent misuse, supporting mental health/substance use recovery programs as explicitly stated in summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 347: An Act relative to the protection of medical exemptions for immunizations for school attendance

By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 347) of Peter J. Durant for legislation relative to the protection of medical exemptions for immunizations for school attendance. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects medical exemptions for school immunizations, ensuring students with medical conditions can attend school without exclusion. This directly supports educational access for K-12 students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects medical exemptions for school immunizations, ensuring students with medical needs maintain educational access without healthcare barriers.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 5, 2026

H 684: An Act concerning disposable menstrual products in schools

This bill requires all Massachusetts public schools serving grades 6-12 to provide free disposable menstrual products (like tampons and sanitary napkins) in school restrooms at no cost to students. Schools must ensure products are available conveniently without stigmatizing students seeking them. The requirement takes effect on August 1, 2026, and allows school districts to adjust product amounts based on student usage. The law directly affects public school students in grades 6-12 across the Commonwealth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides disposable menstrual products in schools to improve student attendance and access, directly supporting educational access under K-12 policies.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides menstrual products in schools, addressing public health access for students under healthcare's public health programs category.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

H 1249: An Act relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings

By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1249) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Steven Owens and Samantha Montaño relative to PANDAS/PANS screening in medical/clinical settings. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates PANDAS/PANS screening in medical settings, advancing early detection and treatment of neurological conditions, improving patient access to specialized care.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 29, 2025

H 2557: An Act relative to requiring trauma kits in public buildings

HD 83, titled "The Massachusetts Trauma Response Preparedness Act," requires all public buildings (including schools, libraries, town halls, and venues with 300+ capacity) to maintain accessible trauma kits and trained staff. The kits must contain tourniquets, gauze, gloves, and training materials aligned with American College of Surgeons standards, while buildings must have a certified "Trauma Kit Designee" on staff at all times. It allows shared storage for trauma kits and AEDs (defibrillators) and provides liability protection for good-faith first aid attempts during emergencies. The bill also enables municipalities to fund these kits using Community Preservation Funds. This directly affects public facilities and ensures immediate response capability for life-threatening bleeding incidents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires trauma kits in public buildings to improve emergency medical response under public health initiatives, advancing public health access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 2451: An Act to improve access to family physicians

This bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen family medicine residency programs and improve access to family physicians. It requires residency programs to last 3-4 years (up from 9-12 months), mandates that residents see patients for 40 weeks annually, and adds "family medicine" and "family physicians" to key definitions. The Health Care Workforce Center must prioritize programs that place graduates in underserved areas, attract underrepresented groups, or operate in high-need locations. Funding must cover at least 85% of CMS reimbursement rates for all residency years. The changes directly affect family medicine residency programs, the Workforce Center, and patients in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to improve access to family physicians, directly enhancing patient access to primary care under Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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