Rep. Joe McKenna

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the town of Webster to issue a special liquor license to G.T. Legacy Group for their store at Pine View Plaza, allowing the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption. The legislation permits the town to grant this additional license despite existing state restrictions, provided the store maintains good standing with state tax and unemployment departments. If the current licensee stops operating or fails to renew the license, the town may issue a new one to a different applicant at the same location within three years. The license must be issued within three years of the bill becoming effective and cannot be transferred to a different address.

By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 3051) of Ryan C. Fattman and Michael J. Soter (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to a certain retirement benefit to be paid to the surviving spouse of fallen officer, Stephen LaPorta, of the police department of the town of Uxbridge. Public Service. [Local approval received.]

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that health care plans for firefighters in Massachusetts cover specific cancer screenings without charging co-payments or deductibles. It requires these screenings to begin three years after a firefighter starts their job and to be repeated every three years while they are employed. The law specifies that the exams must check for various types of cancer, including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and applies to firefighters working for the state, cities, towns, and certain military bases. While the bill generally prohibits out-of-pocket costs, it allows for cost-sharing only if federal tax laws require it to maintain the plan's tax-exempt status.

Maddy summaryH 4335 requires Massachusetts' Group Insurance Commission to cover medically necessary cognitive rehabilitation services for Commonwealth employees (active and retired) with an acquired brain injury (ABI). The bill mandates coverage for specific therapies including cognitive rehabilitation therapy, neurocognitive therapy, community reintegration services, and neurofeedback therapy, without lifetime or unreasonable annual limits. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage solely because services occur outside a hospital and requires insurers to train staff on these benefits. The law also specifies that providers must hold appropriate licenses and accreditation for these services. This directly affects Commonwealth employees with ABI by ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage for their rehabilitation needs.

Maddy summaryH 4432 establishes the Hospital to Home Partnership Program within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. It requires participating acute-care hospitals to include an Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) staff member as a dedicated liaison to help patients transition to home or community-based care instead of skilled nursing facilities. The program aims to improve coordination between hospitals and community providers, streamlining discharges to reduce institutional placements. This directly affects hospitals, ASAPs, and patients needing post-hospital care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers (such as state, city, or fire district departments) to provide full-time firefighters with free cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after they begin working as firefighters. It covers screenings for 11 specific cancers including colon, lung, bladder, and prostate, with all costs paid by the employer's health plan - no co-pays or deductibles required. The mandate applies to firefighters in municipal departments, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the 104th Fighter Wing, and Devens fire departments. The only exception is if the employer's health plan is federally tax-exempt and would lose that status without cost-sharing, though this is uncommon.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a trust fund to grow and diversify the perinatal behavioral health care workforce in Massachusetts. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities (such as colleges, community health centers, tribal organizations, and public health agencies) that create or expand training programs for providers focusing on mental health and substance use services for perinatal individuals. The grants prioritize organizations serving medically underserved populations or areas with racial, geographic, or health outcome disparities. Recipients must report annually on grant usage, program participants (with demographic data), and impacts on workforce shortages and access. The fund aims to improve access to culturally competent behavioral health care during pregnancy and the first year postpartum.

Maddy summaryH 5046 ("Freddy’s Law") requires all Massachusetts high school athletes participating in MIAA sports to undergo one electrocardiogram (EKG) screening before competing, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that all health insurance plans sold in Massachusetts - including state employee coverage, employer group plans, and individual policies - must cover this screening at no cost to families. It also directs the state to work with the MIAA to create policies covering athlete compliance, handling abnormal results, religious exemptions, and sharing screening results across schools. The law directly affects all high school athletes in MIAA sports and their insurance providers, ensuring EKG screenings are accessible without out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summaryHD 774 removes barriers for physician assistants (PAs) by expanding their scope of practice and improving access to care. The bill allows PAs to perform medical services within their training without requiring physician supervision for certain tasks, ensures insurance coverage for PA-provided services identical to those by physicians, and permits PAs to bill insurers directly. It also establishes a 2,000-hour collaborative practice requirement in hospital settings for PA licensure. This directly affects PAs, patients seeking care, and healthcare insurers by streamlining care delivery and billing processes.

Maddy summaryHD 2345, titled "An Act relative to physician assistant interstate compact," creates a legal framework allowing physician assistants (PAs) licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. It establishes a "compact privilege" enabling PAs to provide medical services to patients located in another participating state, with oversight by the state where the patient is physically present during care. Key requirements include holding a current national certification (NCCPA PANCE), passing a criminal background check, and having no serious convictions, while states must share disciplinary information through a centralized data system. This bill directly affects PAs seeking to practice across state lines, patients receiving care in different states, and military families by simplifying licensure for active-duty personnel and spouses.