Sen. John Keenan

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Massachusetts tax foreclosure laws to strengthen protections for homeowners facing property loss due to unpaid taxes. It requires tax collectors to provide clearer warnings about the consequences of non-payment, including potential eviction, and mandates that courts explicitly consider whether seizing rental income from the property could satisfy the debt before ordering a public sale. Additionally, the legislation ensures that tax liens are treated with the same priority as mortgages during the distribution of sale proceeds, aiming to provide a fairer process for property owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts state laws to officially include licensed rehabilitation counselors as recognized mental health professionals. By adding this specific role to the legal definition of "licensed mental health professional," the legislation allows rehabilitation counselors to participate in various state-regulated programs that previously required other types of mental health experts. The changes directly affect rehabilitation counselors by expanding their eligibility to provide services in areas such as disability support and vocational rehabilitation, while also ensuring these services align with existing state standards. Ultimately, the bill aims to broaden consumer access to rehabilitation counseling by formally integrating these professionals into the broader mental health framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in Massachusetts to pay for medically necessary services when providers follow the insurer's clinical guidelines and approved authorization procedures. It prevents denials based on minor administrative or technical errors, except in cases of suspected fraud, and limits the time insurers have to recoup payments to twelve months. The law also mandates that insurers provide detailed written notices before seeking payment adjustments and must conduct a retrospective review within thirty days if a denial stems from an unintentional error in obtaining authorization. Additionally, if a service is deemed medically necessary after such a review, the insurer must reverse the denial and pay the claim.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill ensures that individuals with mental health insurance can continue their treatment with a provider even if that provider is removed from the insurance network or the insurance company changes. It defines a "continuing course of treatment" as having at least one visit in the past four months for the same or similar condition. Under the new rules, insurance carriers must cover these out-of-network visits at the same rate they pay for in-network services, without charging patients extra deductibles or copayments unless the specific cost of using an out-of-network provider is proven to be higher. The law also requires carriers to justify any increased costs to the state's health policy division before imposing higher fees on patients.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill mandates that state employee health plans and all private health insurance policies issued within the state cover treatments for mitochondrial disease. Specifically, it requires coverage for vitamin and nutritional supplements, including CoEnzyme Q10, various B vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K1, and L-Carnitine. The law applies to a wide range of insurance types, including those for government workers, private group plans, individual policies, and health maintenance organizations. By amending multiple existing chapters of state law, the bill ensures that anyone with this condition has access to these specific treatments regardless of their insurance source.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two existing sections of Massachusetts law related to prescription drug safety and stewardship. By removing these specific legal provisions, the legislation effectively eliminates the current requirements they established. The bill does not introduce new rules or create new obligations for individuals or organizations. Instead, its primary action is to delete the text of Section 55 and Section 77 from Chapter 52 of the Acts of 2016.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows collaborative drug therapy management in ambulatory care clinics in Massachusetts, expanding where this practice can occur. It requires that a physician and a pharmacist supervise the process, either on-site or off-site, and mandates approval from the clinic's medical leadership. The legislation overrides previous restrictions that limited this type of care to specific settings, aiming to increase access to medication management services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that all organizations contracted to provide MassHealth services offer equal access to behavioral health care, including medications and benefits of comparable quality. It mandates that these providers submit their policies, standards, and methods for reviewing care to the state health division for approval. Additionally, the law requires these entities to report how they determine payment rates for inpatient mental health and substance use services, ensuring the rates cover the actual costs of care. The bill also establishes a deadline for submitting a detailed report on these payment methodologies to state committees within 90 days of the act taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to formally define cognitive rehabilitation services for individuals with acquired brain injuries, such as those caused by strokes or traumatic brain injuries. It establishes specific definitions for various therapies, including cognitive rehabilitation therapy and community reintegration services, to ensure clarity in how these treatments are described and delivered. The legislation aims to create a standardized framework for these services, which are designed to help patients relearn essential daily living skills and safely return to their communities. By updating the legal definitions within Chapter 32A of the General Laws, the bill provides a clearer basis for insurance coverage and service delivery for this specific population.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill requires that social service and home care workers be paid at least 140 percent of the state's minimum wage. To make this possible, the state agency overseeing these programs must adjust the payment rates it gives to service providers to cover the increased labor costs. Before setting these new rates, the agency must hold public hearings to gather input from workers, employers, and community members, and it must investigate current wages and working conditions. The law also grants the agency the power to issue subpoenas to ensure witnesses and records are available during this investigation process.