Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 897: An Act relative to hospital price transparency

This bill requires hospitals to publicly disclose pricing information. Specifically, hospitals must post machine-readable lists of standard charges for all services on their websites and provide written payment estimates to patients (or their representatives) at least 3 days before scheduled elective procedures, tests, or services. Hospitals must also prominently display information about this service in public areas and on their websites. Violations are treated as unfair business practices under Chapter 93A, allowing the Attorney General to seek penalties or restitution. The bill directly affects all hospitals in Massachusetts and patients scheduling elective medical services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospital price transparency, improving patient access to cost information and aligning with healthcare transparency initiatives to strengthen consumer decision-making.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 781: An Act to help patients and reduce healthcare costs by ensuring patient adherence to medications

SD 1554 requires health insurance plans in the state to cover partial prescription fills for medication synchronization when a prescriber or pharmacist deems it medically appropriate and the patient agrees. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage or applying pro-rated cost-sharing for such partial supplies, and mandates pharmacies to override system denials for this purpose. The bill also bans insurers from using pro-rated dispensing fees, requiring full payment for each partial fill regardless of patient copay amounts. This directly affects patients needing synchronized medications, pharmacists dispensing partial prescriptions, and health insurers managing coverage policies. The law aims to improve medication adherence and reduce costs by removing insurance barriers to flexible prescription scheduling.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces costs and improves medication adherence via synchronization, directly advancing patient access and cost-effective care as per title/summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 694: An Act empowering health care consumers

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 694) of Brendan P. Crighton, James B. Eldridge and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to empower health care consumers. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill title 'empowering health care consumers' aligns with protecting patient rights and improving access, key support indicators.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 9, 2026

H 1325: An Act to ensure access to generic medication

This bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurers to maintain transparent "maximum allowable cost" lists for drugs, ensuring these lists only include therapeutically equivalent generic drugs with multiple available sources. It mandates that PBMs update reimbursement rates at least every 3 business days to cover actual pharmacy acquisition costs and provides pharmacies a 7-day appeal process if rates are unfairly low. Pharmacies can contest rates based on market prices or improper listing, with PBMs required to resolve appeals within 7 days and adjust rates for all similar pharmacies if an appeal succeeds. The Insurance Commissioner enforces these rules, including auditing PBMs and protecting confidential compliance data from public disclosure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to ensure access to generic medications, improving patient affordability and access to essential treatments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 908: An Act establishing a healthcare insurance premium payment pool for working families

This bill (SD 164) amends a section of state law to allow multiple entities - such as employers, government programs, and policyholders - to collectively use private vendors for collecting health insurance premiums. It does not create new funding or coverage but requires educating employers and insurers about existing private collection services. The bill directly affects employers, insurers, and government programs that pay for health insurance, not working families as the title suggests. It is a procedural change focused on administrative efficiency, not substantive policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes premium payment pool to make healthcare insurance affordable for working families, directly expanding coverage access and reducing out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Jun 9, 2025

HD 4804: The annual report of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (under Section 80 of Chapter 118E of the General Laws) certifying and outlining how the health benefit plans under the office of Medicaid, and their contractors, comply with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act for calendar year 2024

This bill requires Massachusetts' Executive Office of Health and Human Services to submit an annual report certifying how Medicaid health benefit plans and their contractors comply with the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act for 2024. The report must outline specific steps taken to ensure these plans provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment as for physical health conditions. This affects Medicaid health plans and their contractors operating in Massachusetts, ensuring transparency about their adherence to federal parity requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires certification of Medicaid compliance with federal mental health parity law, ensuring equal coverage for mental health vs physical health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 2060: An Act establishing a tax credit for families caring for elderly relatives and victims of Alzheimer's and Dementia

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2060) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to establish a tax credit for families caring for elderly relatives and victims of Alzheimer's and Dementia. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tax credit for caregivers, providing direct tax relief aligning with 'provides tax relief for middle/lower income' indicator under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax credit for families caring for Alzheimer's/dementia patients, supporting caregiver access to healthcare-related care services and reducing financial burden on families managing health conditions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 16, 2025

S 842: An Act to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 842) of Joanne M. Comerford and Steven Owens for legislation to offer financial assistance for medical debt to those below the federal poverty level. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs state funds for medical debt assistance to low-income residents, increasing public service spending under government budget allocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides financial assistance for medical debt to those below federal poverty level, directly improving healthcare access and reducing financial barriers for low-income patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 1757: An Act to remove medical and health service fees for incarcerated people

By Mr. Payano, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1757) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation to remove medical and health service fees for incarcerated people. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves medical fees for incarcerated people, improving healthcare access and supporting rehabilitation in corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves financial barriers to medical care for incarcerated individuals, improving access to health services per bill title and summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 856: An Act ensuring access and continuity of care to specialist and hospital services for dually eligible individuals

This bill (SD 1815) ensures that people in Massachusetts eligible for both Medicare and MassHealth (dually eligible individuals) can access specialist and hospital care from any provider enrolled in Medicare or MassHealth, regardless of their health plan’s network restrictions. It requires health plans (like One Care or SCO plans) to reimburse providers at Medicare or MassHealth fee-for-service rates if no existing contract exists, unless the plan and provider agree otherwise. Additionally, if a health plan terminates a contract with a provider, it must allow affected members to continue receiving care from that provider for 12 months under the original terms, including reimbursement rates, to prevent sudden disruptions in care. The law directly affects dually eligible patients and their providers, focusing on maintaining access without requiring new contract negotiations during transitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures access/continuity of specialist/hospital care for dually eligible individuals, directly improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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