Sen. John Keenan

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that all MassHealth recipients and their managed care providers have access to the state's existing patient protection standards and procedures. It mandates that the Office of Patient Protection administer these rules and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal waivers if necessary to implement the law. By explicitly including contracted health plans and third-party administrators, the legislation aims to guarantee consistent patient rights enforcement across the entire Medicaid system.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill requires health insurance plans to cover the cost of artificial scalp and facial hair replacements for individuals who have lost hair due to cancer treatment, specific autoimmune conditions, or injury. The law explicitly excludes hair loss caused by natural aging or premature aging processes. To receive coverage, a doctor must certify that the prosthetic is medically necessary, and the insurance must apply the same rules and limits to these items as it does to other medical prostheses like artificial limbs.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that individuals in Massachusetts can continue seeing their mental health providers even if those providers are removed from an 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 condition or similar symptoms. Under the new rules, insurance carriers must pay the full in-network rate to providers who are out-of-network due to disenrollment or plan changes, unless the removal was due to fraud or quality issues. Patients may face a higher co-payment only if the carrier proves that using an out-of-network provider significantly increases costs, and no new deductibles or additional charges are allowed for this coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable tax credit for Massachusetts residents who provide unpaid care for family members requiring assistance with daily activities like bathing, eating, or moving. To qualify, the caregiver must have an income below $75,000 individually or $150,000 as a couple and spend money on eligible expenses such as home modifications, medical equipment, or hiring professional care services. The credit covers 100% of these costs but is capped at $1,500 per eligible family member to ensure the total benefit does not exceed that maximum amount. If multiple people care for the same individual, the $1,500 limit is shared among them based on how much each person spent. The law also requires the Department of Revenue to review and adjust the credit parameters every five years starting from when it takes effect.

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 aims to protect homeowners in Massachusetts from unfair practices by local tax lien collectors. It establishes a fixed $30 fee for municipalities to record tax lien documents and requires that the sale of tax receivables be conducted through a public bidding process that evaluates offerors based on price, experience, and licensing status. Additionally, the legislation mandates that buyers must notify taxpayers within 12 business days of purchasing a lien, providing clear, multilingual information about the sale, redemption rights, and legal consequences in plain language.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands health insurance coverage in Massachusetts to include three specific levels of addiction treatment: acute treatment, clinical stabilization, and transitional support services. It directly affects active and retired state employees and their dependents who are covered by the state's group insurance commission. The law mandates that these services be provided for up to 30 days without requiring preauthorization, while also setting rules for when insurance companies can review a patient's care plan. Additionally, the bill formally defines these treatment types and repeals an older section of state law related to addiction services.

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 requires state agencies to increase funding for human services organizations to close the pay gap between these workers and comparable state employees. The law mandates that the reimbursement gap be reduced by 50% by July 2024, 30% by July 2025, 10% by July 2026, and fully eliminated by July 2027. All additional funds received must be used to raise the salaries of the workers who provide care and support services. The legislation also directs relevant agencies to create a report on improving recruitment and retention for these employees by January 2024.