Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2471: An Act relative to reducing administrative burden

By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1403) of Cindy F. Friedman, Joanne M. Comerford, Mike Connolly and Adam Gomez for legislation relative to reducing administrative burden. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces administrative burden for mental health services, improving provider efficiency and access per summary's focus on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2392: An Act helping overdosing persons in emergencies

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1410) of Joan B. Lovely relative to the requirements and procedures necessary for first responders to provide urgent help to persons at risk of serious and deadly harm from opioids and opioid overdose. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes procedures for first responders to provide urgent help for opioid overdoses, directly advancing public health emergency response within mental health/substance use framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2148: 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 ensures access to addiction services, directly improving mental health and substance use treatment access under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 873: An Act relative to treatment, not incarceration

HD 873 changes how courts handle probation for individuals with substance use disorders. It requires courts to assess whether someone on probation needs treatment instead of solely mandating drug testing. If treatment is ordered, courts must use licensed providers or evidence-based programs and cannot impose extra testing beyond the treatment plan. Crucially, a positive test or relapse during treatment is not considered a probation violation, shifting focus from punishment to supporting recovery.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts probation focus from punishment to treatment for substance use disorders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals by prioritizing rehabilitation over incarceration.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates treatment over incarceration for substance use disorders, improving access to healthcare services and removing punitive barriers to recovery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2460: An Act relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 432) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds opioid prevention education to school curriculum, enhancing health education programs without restrictions or funding cuts.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates opioid abuse prevention education, a public health initiative directly addressing healthcare impacts of the opioid crisis through prevention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3868: An Act for a COVID-19 vaccination tax credit

This bill would create a tax credit of at least $100 for Massachusetts residents who provide medical documentation proving they received approved COVID-19 vaccines. The credit would be claimed when filing Massachusetts individual income tax returns, requiring proof of vaccination for each required dose. The legislation aims to encourage vaccination by offering direct financial support to residents. It is intended to advance public health goals and support economic recovery through higher vaccination rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a $100 tax credit for vaccine recipients, providing direct tax relief to residents. This aligns with 'provides tax relief' indicator for Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill offers tax credit to incentivize COVID-19 vaccination, directly advancing public health goals as stated in summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Public Health Substance Abuse

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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

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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

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2763: An Act relative to overdose mapping

This bill requires emergency medical services, hospitals, law enforcement, and other first responders to record and submit the location of both fatal and nonfatal opiate overdoses to the state department within 24 hours. The data will be compiled into a public online database by the Center for Health Information Analysis, showing overdose locations across Massachusetts without revealing personal details like names or addresses. All data collection must comply with federal privacy rules (HIPAA), and the database will be updated monthly with new reports. The law takes effect January 1, 2024, aiming to improve public health tracking of the opioid crisis.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates public overdose mapping database to identify hotspots and improve public health response, directly supporting healthcare policy through data-driven public health initiatives.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 513: An Act concerning equitable allocation of recovery proceeds for subrogation claims

This bill changes how insurance companies can seek reimbursement from injured people who recover money from third parties (like in car accident cases). It requires insurers to take only their proportional share of settlement or judgment funds - based on how much they paid for medical care relative to the total injury damages - instead of claiming the full amount. Injured people and insurers can ask a court to review settlement fairness if they disagree, and courts must reduce excessive insurer claims when total damages are low. The law directly affects injured individuals, their insurance companies, and third-party defendants in personal injury cases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights in medical insurance claims by requiring proportional insurer reimbursement, preventing excessive claims against injured parties and ensuring fair settlement distribution after medical care coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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