Healthcare

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 23, 2026

H 5303: An Act expanding access to perimenopause and menopause care

This bill creates a special legislative commission to study perimenopause and menopause care across Massachusetts, with 19 members representing diverse health, community, and advocacy organizations. The commission will collect data on care access and disparities, evaluate insurance coverage and treatment options, identify gaps in medical education for providers, and submit a report with recommendations by December 2027. Additionally, the state Department of Public Health will develop public education materials in multiple languages about menopause symptoms and treatments, provide training for healthcare workers, and support research on causes and therapies. The bill also establishes September as Perimenopause Awareness Month to increase public understanding of this life stage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates commission to study and improve perimenopause/menopause care access, evaluate insurance coverage, and identify gaps in medical education, directly advancing healthcare access and quality.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 5276: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

This bill requires healthcare providers and emergency responders to check for available community-based mental health services before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals with mental illness. It defines "community alternatives" to include crisis intervention teams, urgent care services, peer support programs, and other non-hospital settings, requiring that these options be considered first unless they are unavailable or the person refuses them. The law also mandates that hospitalization applications document why community alternatives were inappropriate or declined, and it requires the state department to track hospitalization data by demographics and maintain a public website listing available community services and their capacity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes community-based mental health services and reduces unnecessary hospitalizations, protecting patient rights and expanding access to alternative care options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SD 3779: Primary Care Task Force Statutory Deliverable #4: Propose Payment Models to Increase Reimbursement for Primary Care Report

Report of the Health Policy Commission (pursuant to Chapter 343 of the Acts of 2024) submitting the fourth deliverable of the Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force (Primary Care Task Force) report

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill proposes payment models to increase reimbursement for primary care, directly supporting healthcare access and provider compensation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 5229: An Act modernizing the six fundamental rights

This bill modernizes the six fundamental rights for individuals in mental health and substance use treatment facilities by updating state law to expand access to communication, visitors, and personal living spaces. It ensures people can make confidential phone calls, send and receive mail without censorship, receive visitors daily, and have private access to personal care items that respect their gender identity. The legislation also clarifies when rights can be temporarily suspended, requires facilities to establish clear rules for suspensions, and creates a new enforcement system with fines and a dedicated fund to support affected individuals. Additionally, it expands the list of professionals who can visit patients and strengthens accountability by mandating penalties for facilities that violate these rights.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient rights in mental health facilities, improving access to communication, visitors, and personal care, directly supporting mental health services and patient protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 22, 2026

H 5230: An Act relative to access to psychiatric collaborative care

This bill establishes minimum payment rates for psychiatric collaborative care services across multiple types of health insurance and programs in Massachusetts, including Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and health maintenance organizations. It requires these payers to reimburse providers for specific psychiatric collaborative care billing codes at rates equal to or higher than the current Medicare fee schedule, with provisions for annual adjustments. The law applies to all contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after January 1, 2027, and includes a list of specific billing codes that must be covered while allowing insurance regulators to add additional codes through future regulations. The bill aims to standardize reimbursement practices for mental health care services delivered through collaborative models across different insurance systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes minimum payment rates for psychiatric collaborative care across multiple insurance programs, expanding access and funding for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 5275: An Act reducing emergency department boarding

This bill amends existing mental health laws to protect individuals held in emergency departments who are being restrained while awaiting psychiatric evaluations. It requires facilities not authorized to perform evaluations to inform patients and their guardians about their right to voluntary admission and limits restraint to a maximum of 72 hours. If a person is held longer than 48 hours at such a facility, they must be told they can request a lawyer, and the state will appoint one if needed. The bill also allows individuals to request an emergency court hearing within one business day if they believe the restraint was improper. These changes directly affect patients, their families, and mental health facilities across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects civil rights of individuals in mental health crisis by limiting restraint duration and ensuring legal representation, aligning with criminal justice reform and rights protection.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights in mental health settings, limits restraint duration, and ensures legal representation, directly supporting healthcare access and patient safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 2974: An Act to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care

The committee on Health Care Financing to whom was referred the Senate Bill to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care (Senate, No. 1401), - reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2974).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to improve timely treatment for inpatient mental health care, directly supporting mental health services and patient access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SD 3650: An Act for long-term coverage of gender affirming care medications

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Julian Cyr for legislation for long-term coverage of gender affirming care medications. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates long-term insurance coverage for gender-affirming medications, expanding healthcare access and funding for a specific treatment.95% confidence

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jun 3, 2026

H 5050: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for responding to recent federal actions

H 5050 is primarily an appropriations bill that allocates additional funding for state government operations in fiscal year 2026, including $300 million for group insurance premiums and $31 million for correctional facility operations. Its most significant policy change (Section 5) creates new restrictions on civil immigration enforcement at child care facilities: it prohibits law enforcement from entering licensed child care centers, family child care homes, or school-aged programs without a judicial warrant and prior approval from the facility director. The bill also requires these facilities to establish policies for handling immigration enforcement interactions, including verifying warrants and designating staff to manage such encounters. These provisions directly affect child care providers and law enforcement agencies operating near early childhood facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds correctional facilities ($31M), directly supporting criminal justice operations per appropriations allocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $300M for group insurance premiums, directly funding health coverage under state operations per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 9, 2025

SD 3278: Order considering Senate Bill, No. 1483 during the Senate Session of October 16, 2025

SD 3278 is a procedural order that advances Senate Bill 1483 (which would require manufacturers to disclose ingredients in menstrual products) to a second reading on October 16, 2025, by overriding standard Senate scheduling rules. This order, adopted on October 9, 2025, ensures immediate consideration of the bill and its committee-drafted update (Senate Bill 2641) without following typical procedural delays. It directly affects the legislative process for menstrual product transparency legislation but does not change the bill's substance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdvances bill requiring menstrual product ingredient disclosure, a public health measure to inform consumers about health risks related to product safety.85% confidence

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