Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 845: An Act to protect 340B providers in the Medicaid program

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 845) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to not restrict or limit an eligible hospital’s access to the discounted purchase of prescription drugs in the Medicaid program. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly prevents restrictions on 340B providers' access to discounted drugs in Medicaid, protecting patient affordability and access to medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 2, 2026

S 1628: An Act to protect the independence of clinical decision making

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1628) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to allow an independent health care practice to have ultimate control over clinical decision making. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects clinical decision-making independence for healthcare practices, aligning with patient rights and healthcare quality standards under Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2486: An Act to protect the independence of clinical decision making

This bill protects clinicians' ability to make independent medical decisions by restricting ownership of healthcare practices. It requires that practices be owned solely by clinicians with independent practice authority (like doctors, nurse practitioners, or psychologists) and prohibits management organizations or healthcare facilities from interfering with clinical judgments - such as discharge timing, diagnosis codes, or patient care plans. Healthcare practices must certify compliance with these rules to licensing boards biennially. The law directly affects clinicians, healthcare practices, and management services organizations operating in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly protects clinical decision making independence, aligning with 'protects patient rights' indicator in healthcare delivery and public health context.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 1534: An Act to protect the independence of clinical decision making

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1534) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to protect the independence of clinical decision making. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects clinical autonomy in treatment decisions, strengthening patient-centered care within public health framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2361: An Act relative to ensuring quality healthcare for children

This bill (HD 2064) grants parents or guardians of children under 16 the right to inspect all medical records (including digital records) of their child without needing the child's consent, except for records related to specific sensitive services. The exceptions cover family planning, gender-affirming care, substance use treatment, STI treatment, pregnancy-related care, and mental health treatment. The Department of Public Health must create rules to implement this change. It directly affects parents/guardians of minors under 16 and healthcare facilities handling their records.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly grants right to inspect medical records, advancing patient access and transparency - key patient right protection under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 8, 2026

S 1385: An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians

This bill expands loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians in Massachusetts. It adds family physicians, internal medicine doctors, pediatricians, and obstetricians/gynecologists to the existing program, making them eligible for loan repayment. To qualify, physicians must work with significant public payor patient populations (as defined by the Department of Public Health), have outstanding education debt, not use other loan programs, and sign a 4-year contract with the state. The program also specifies that part-time workers receive pro-rated assistance. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services must issue implementing regulations within three months of the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians, directly improving healthcare workforce access and patient care through funding incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 5, 2026

H 4068: An Act relative to protecting health insurance coverage

HD 3133 requires employers with 50+ full-time equivalent employees in Massachusetts (who do not already provide health insurance) to pay a "fair share" contribution toward uncompensated care costs for uninsured residents. The bill establishes a formula to calculate this annual per-employee payment, based on the total cost of uncompensated care provided to uninsured patients (calculated using hospital data and physician surveys) divided by the number of employees at non-contributing employers. This contribution amount adjusts yearly for medical inflation and is enforced by the Department of Unemployment Assistance. The policy directly affects large employers not offering group health insurance, aiming to redistribute costs currently borne by the state’s health safety net system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to protect health insurance coverage via fair employer contributions, directly advancing coverage protections per healthcare support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates fair employer health insurance contributions, protecting workers' access to coverage and expanding benefits under Labor and Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 24, 2025

H 1358: An Act advancing health care research and decision-making centered on patients and people with disabilities

This bill (HD 2117) requires Massachusetts healthcare agencies (Division of Medical Assistance and Health Policy Commission) to use patient-centered research standards when making coverage and treatment decisions. It mandates that research must prioritize outcomes valued by patients and people with disabilities, include analysis of diverse patient subgroups, and follow rigorous scientific practices. Crucially, it prohibits agencies from using "dollars-per-quality adjusted life year" or similar cost-effectiveness metrics to deny coverage or set payment rates. The bill also requires clear appeals processes for physicians to override coverage denials. These changes directly affect how state healthcare decisions are made, aiming to ensure patient perspectives shape coverage policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly advances patient-centered health care research and decision-making, improving access and rights for patients/disabled individuals per title and summary.95% confidence

Tags People with Disabilities

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 31, 2025

S 2572: Amendment S.2572

This bill strengthens protections for reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare services in Massachusetts. It prohibits state agencies, employees, and healthcare data systems from sharing personal information (like addresses or contact details) of providers or patients, or cooperating with out-of-state investigations into these legally protected services. The law also blocks state agencies from using public resources for such investigations and restricts health data sharing for enforcement purposes, with civil penalties for violations. These changes directly affect healthcare providers, patients receiving these services, and Massachusetts state/local agencies handling health data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStrengthens protections for reproductive/gender-affirming healthcare by prohibiting data sharing and blocking enforcement actions against these services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits sharing of patient/provider data in healthcare systems, strengthening data privacy protections per bill's restrictions on health data sharing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Dec 4, 2025

H 4329: An Act improving medical decision making

H 4329 establishes a new legal framework for medical decision-making when patients lack capacity to make their own choices. It creates Chapter 201G defining key terms and setting a priority order for surrogate decision makers (spouse, adult children, parents, siblings), requiring them to submit a written, sworn declaration. The bill specifies criteria for selecting among eligible candidates - such as relationship, familiarity with the patient’s values, and availability - and prohibits certain individuals (like treating physicians or facility staff) from serving as surrogates. Additionally, it amends existing law to allow healthcare agents’ authority to continue for up to six months after a patient’s death with prior written permission.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates legal framework for patient decision-making surrogates, protecting patient rights and ensuring decisions align with patient values during incapacity.95% confidence

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