Sen. Bruce Tarr

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow residents and communities to pay up to 25 percent of the amount needed to redeem property from tax title, rather than requiring the full 25 percent minimum payment. The change applies specifically to Section 62A of Chapter 60, which governs tax redemption processes. By modifying the language to say "up to" instead of a fixed requirement, the legislation provides flexibility for those seeking to resolve tax delinquencies on their parcels.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the oversight of Massachusetts' health care connector by establishing a new 13-member board to govern it. The board would include representatives from various sectors such as finance, insurance, business, labor, and consumer groups, with terms lasting three years. Additionally, the legislation requires the connector to operate under state open meeting and public records laws, ensuring transparency by making documents like meeting minutes and financial records available online. It also mandates an annual review of the connector's investment returns, with results reported to state legislative committees by the end of each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services to classify fetal opioid drug exposure and addiction as "Closely Related Developmental Conditions." By adding this classification to the state's regulatory definitions, the legislation aims to ensure that children affected by prenatal opioid exposure are eligible for specific support services and resources. Additionally, the bill grants the department commissioner the authority to include other related diagnoses within this category at their discretion. The primary impact is to expand the scope of care and assistance available to families dealing with the developmental challenges associated with fetal opioid exposure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to regulate how pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies set maximum allowable costs for prescription drugs. It requires these entities to ensure their reimbursement rates are at least equal to the actual cost pharmacies pay to acquire medications and mandates that costs for independent pharmacies cannot be lower than those for affiliated ones. The legislation also establishes a process for pharmacies to appeal cost decisions if they believe the set maximum is too low, requiring a final response within seven business days. Additionally, the bill sets specific criteria for placing drugs on cost lists, such as requiring the availability of generic options, and mandates that updated cost lists be shared with pharmacies in a secure, web-based format.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to require the state's health data center to publish detailed payment and usage information for hospitals, doctors, and drug suppliers. Specifically, it mandates the release of data on the 100 most common inpatient stays, outpatient procedures, and prescribed drugs, along with the 10 most expensive categories in each group. The law requires this information to include both submitted charges and allowed amounts, allowing comparisons by provider, specialty, and location, while excluding data from providers with fewer than five instances of a specific service. The bill specifies that the data must be made available annually on the public website in a raw, usable format, though it does not require the state to create a new consumer tool to sort the information.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to stabilize funding for adult day health services in Massachusetts by updating how payment rates are set for these programs. It requires the state secretary to establish payment rates every two years, starting in July, based on factors like provider costs for new government mandates, changes in wages and benefits, and differences in real estate and equipment expenses. Additionally, the legislation ensures that MassHealth will reimburse providers to allow participants to keep their program slots for up to 20 medical leave days and 10 non-medical leave days each year, preventing providers from reassigning those spots during approved absences.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes telehealth parity for nutrition counseling in Massachusetts, requiring insurance plans to pay the same rate for virtual nutrition services as they do for in-person visits. The legislation applies to various insurance types, including behavioral health plans, health insurance, and hospital service corporations, ensuring that licensed dietitians and nutritionists receive equal reimbursement for remote sessions delivered via video or phone. By mandating equal payment rates, the law aims to make remote nutrition counseling more accessible and financially viable for providers without altering the scope of services covered.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows new state employees in Massachusetts to receive health insurance coverage starting on their first day of work, rather than waiting for a standard waiting period. It applies to all state employers who offer health benefits through the state's group insurance commission. To make this change official, the commission must work with finance officials to create and enforce new rules that put this immediate coverage into practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill reformulates the Massachusetts personal care attendant system by establishing a council to manage referrals, training, and supervision for home care workers. It creates a mandatory online registry where attendants must be listed after meeting specific requirements, allowing consumers to search for and hire caregivers directly or through the council's referral service. The legislation also introduces a "personal care attendant pool" to provide backup workers when primary caregivers are absent, ensuring consistent coverage for clients. Additionally, the bill clarifies the legal status of these workers, designating them as public employees only for specific purposes like workers' compensation and unemployment benefits, while retaining the right of consumers to hire and fire their own attendants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to address the financial outcome for property owners after a tax lien force sale. Specifically, it requires that any money remaining from the sale proceeds, after paying off the owed taxes and fees, must be returned to the former owner. The change directly affects individuals whose properties have been sold by the town due to unpaid taxes. By mandating the return of excess funds, the legislation aims to ensure that owners do not lose money they were not legally required to forfeit.