Sen. Paul Feeney

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a new state system called the Massachusetts Health Care Trust to provide universal health coverage for all residents. It establishes a Board of Trustees and an Executive Director to manage the program, which is designed to offer affordable and equitable access to medical services for everyone in the Commonwealth. The legislation amends existing state laws to add this new chapter, effectively replacing or supplementing the current insurance model with a single-payer approach.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers in Massachusetts to provide full-time firefighter employees with free cancer screenings every three years, starting at least three years after they begin working. The screenings must cover a specific list of cancers including lung, colon, and prostate cancer, and the employer's health plan must pay for all costs without requiring any co-pays or deductibles from the firefighters. The law applies to firefighters working for state agencies, cities, towns, and various military and port authority fire departments.

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 requires public employers in Massachusetts to cover cancer screenings for full-time paid firefighters without charging them any out-of-pocket costs. The screenings must occur at least every three years starting three years after the firefighter begins employment and include tests for various types of cancer such as lung, colon, and prostate cancer. The law applies to firefighters working for state agencies, cities, towns, and specific military and port authority fire departments, ensuring these workers receive regular health checks funded entirely by their employer's health plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to establish a new state system called the Massachusetts Health Care Trust to provide universal health coverage to all residents of the Commonwealth. It creates a new chapter in state law that defines key terms, such as "resident," to explicitly include homeless, incarcerated, and undocumented individuals living in Massachusetts. The legislation declares that access to quality health care is a right for all residents and aims to eliminate out-of-pocket costs like co-payments, deductibles, and co-insurance. By setting up a dedicated trust fund and board of trustees, the bill outlines the structural framework needed to finance and administer this comprehensive health care program.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new chapter in Massachusetts law to update how the state manages funding and fees related to digital infrastructure and streaming services. It establishes a policy framework that allows the state to assess fees from companies providing streaming entertainment based on their gross revenues generated within the Commonwealth. The legislation also sets guidelines for how local governments can regulate the use of public spaces for these services while encouraging diverse content and fair competition. Additionally, it creates specific processes for the Department of Revenue to collect unpaid fees and fines from operators that do not comply with the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program at Taunton State Hospital to treat high-acuity behavioral health and dual diagnosis patients who are currently clogging emergency departments in Massachusetts's Southeast region. Under the plan, medically stable individuals with these conditions would be transferred to the hospital if they cannot be moved to another appropriate facility within four hours of arrival. The program would be staffed by registered nurses, psychiatrists, and other necessary personnel, with a specific committee tasked with developing care protocols and staffing plans during the first six months. After two years, an independent entity will produce a report evaluating the pilot's success in reducing emergency room overcrowding and the quality of care provided.

May 9, 2024 -- The committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 34) of Jason M. Lewis, Paul W. Mark, John J. Cronin, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a comprehensive statewide policy concerning streaming entertainment services and the recovery of municipal costs for the management and maintenance of digital infrastructure, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2771).

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly annuity payment for disabled Massachusetts veterans and the surviving spouses of deceased veterans, known as Gold Star families, from $2,000 to $3,000. It directly affects residents who have served in the military and are currently disabled or whose spouses have died in service. The legislation removes a previous restriction that prevented surviving spouses from receiving these payments if they remarry, ensuring they can continue to receive the increased benefit regardless of their marital status. By amending state law, the bill provides a permanent financial adjustment to support these specific groups of veterans and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts health insurance laws to ensure that licensed athletic trainers receive reimbursement from insurers if the same services are covered for other healthcare providers. It directly affects individuals with health plans that include coverage for specific services within an athletic trainer's scope of practice, as well as the trainers themselves. The key provision requires insurers to pay for athletic trainer services without discrimination, provided the care is referred by a physician and falls within the trainer's authorized practice. While deductibles and co-pays may still apply, the bill mandates that these financial requirements cannot be more restrictive than those imposed on other similar healthcare services.