Rep. Carole Fiola

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in Massachusetts to reimburse healthcare providers for 65% of uncollected patient co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. To qualify for this reimbursement, providers must make reasonable collection efforts, such as phone calls and letters, and submit annual requests for claims where the unpaid amount is at least $250 per service. The legislation defines these financial responsibilities clearly and mandates that insurers complete audits and payments within 120 days of receiving a valid request. Ultimately, the law shifts a portion of the financial burden for unpaid patient costs from providers to insurance companies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework for selecting surrogate decision makers when a patient lacks the capacity to make their own health care choices. It establishes a priority list of family members, such as spouses and adult children, who can be designated to decide based on the patient's known wishes or their best interests if those wishes are unknown. To ensure the chosen representative is suitable, the law requires physicians to evaluate candidates based on their relationship with the patient, availability, and ability to communicate with medical providers, while explicitly excluding health care staff and individuals subject to protective orders from serving in this role. The designation remains valid only for the duration of the specific medical episode or up to 90 days, whichever is shorter, and must be documented in the patient's medical record.

By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3498) of Carole A. Fiola, Hannah Kane and others for legislation relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal Affairs.

By Representative Cabral of New Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2295) of Antonio F. D. Cabral and others for legislation to require seat belts on school buses. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

By Representative Giannino of Revere, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2536) of Jessica Ann Giannino and others relative to disability pensions for violent crimes committed against certain public employees. Public Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework to require large streaming entertainment companies to pay fees to the state for using public roads and infrastructure to deliver their services. It defines "streaming entertainment operators" as companies earning more than $250,000 annually in Massachusetts and establishes a new advisory board to calculate fair payment rates that help fund public access television channels. The legislation gives the state authority to collect these assessments and enforce penalties for non-compliance while explicitly stating that the state cannot regulate the prices streaming companies charge their customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to update how the state of Massachusetts provides financial support to local community media organizations. It seeks to modernize the existing funding framework to ensure these groups can continue producing programming that serves their specific neighborhoods. The legislation would allow for a more flexible allocation of public funds to help these media outlets operate effectively.

By Representatives Gentile of Sudbury and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2182) of Carmine Lawrence Gentile, Hannah Kane and others for legislation to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer. Public Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law to require health insurers to pay ambulance providers directly when treating insured individuals who are not under contract with that specific insurer. The legislation mandates that insurers must make these payments promptly, even if the insurance policy typically prohibits assigning benefits, provided the patient signs an assignment form or is unable to do so. It also clarifies that payment made to the patient instead of the ambulance company does not count as reimbursement, and it grants ambulance providers the legal right to sue insurers who fail to pay directly. These changes directly affect ambulance service providers, insurance companies, and patients seeking emergency care in Massachusetts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a clear legal process for making medical decisions for adults in Massachusetts who are incapacitated and lack a valid advance directive or court-appointed guardian. It allows qualified individuals, such as family members or friends, to act as surrogate decision-makers without needing to go through the courts, provided they consult with the attending physician. The law defines specific criteria for who can serve as a surrogate and outlines a priority order for selecting these individuals to ensure timely care. Additionally, the bill clarifies that surrogates must make decisions based on the patient's known values and intentions, while explicitly excluding authority to commit patients to inpatient mental health facilities.