Sen. John Keenan

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to fund non-law enforcement community responses for emergency situations. The program aims to protect mental and physical well-being, prevent violence, and reduce the need for police involvement by connecting residents with human services. To receive funding, local partnerships must include a government unit and community-based organizations, and they must demonstrate experience working with specific populations. A diverse board of community stakeholders, including social workers and service consumers, will oversee the grants and evaluate their effectiveness based on health outcomes and reduced law enforcement demand.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definitions of "athletic trainer" and "athletic training" within Massachusetts state law to align with current professional standards. It specifies that an athletic trainer is someone licensed under the new section 23B and defines the role as involving injury evaluation, treatment, and education for athletes, coaches, and the community. Additionally, the legislation requires the Board of Allied Health Professions to review and update related rules and regulations within 180 days of the bill's passage. These changes aim to clarify the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to ensure that people in correctional facilities receive consistent, evidence-based care for substance use disorders. It requires jails and prisons to offer FDA-approved medication for addiction treatment within 24 hours of admission to anyone who is clinically eligible, regardless of whether they were already taking the medication before incarceration. The law also prohibits denying treatment or issuing disciplinary penalties based on positive drug tests and mandates that individuals maintain their previous dosage unless a specialist determines a change is medically necessary. Additionally, facilities must have the capacity to store and dispense these medications, provided they are covered by MassHealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how the state sets payment rates for home health and home care agencies in Massachusetts to ensure they reflect current operating costs. It requires the executive office to establish these rates at least every two years using cost data from the past four years, adjusted for new regulations and efficiency. The law mandates that rate calculations include allowances for administrative expenses and profits, while also accounting for factors like minimum wage changes, payroll taxes, and employee benefits. Additionally, the agency setting these rates must consult with stakeholders and submit detailed reports comparing the final rates to national inflation indices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts laws to improve access to addiction treatment by clarifying how facilities are defined and managed. It requires the Department of Public Health to ensure enough treatment beds are available across the state and mandates that secure treatment facilities be distributed geographically to serve all regions. The legislation also allows individuals to be committed to correctional facilities for addiction treatment only if they are already there for a criminal case, while requiring monthly reports on these placements. Additionally, the bill ensures that jails and prisons must continue to offer voluntary, evidence-based addiction treatment to incarcerated individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover diagnostic breast cancer exams and digital breast tomosynthesis screenings with the same financial terms as standard mammograms. The law specifically applies to state employee group insurance and Medicaid managed care plans, prohibiting any increase in patient cost-sharing such as deductibles or copayments for these services. Additionally, it creates an exemption for high-deductible health plans that qualify for Health Savings Accounts, allowing them to maintain their tax status while still adhering to state preventive care requirements. By mandating equal coverage for advanced screening technologies, the legislation aims to improve early detection access without adding financial barriers for patients.

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill aims to make it easier for people with health insurance to access non-opioid treatments for pain. It stops insurance companies from requiring pre-approval for alternative pain management services that the state insurance division has deemed necessary. Additionally, the law requires insurers to send educational materials to doctors and patients and to post details about these plans on their websites. These changes apply to various types of health insurance plans, including those for employees, retirees, and self-insured groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's pediatric palliative care program to ensure eligible children have guaranteed access to its services. It removes language that previously stated the program did not create enforceable legal rights or entitlements for families, replacing it with a statement affirming that all eligible children will receive care. Additionally, the bill increases the program's funding cap from $19 million to $22 million and mandates quarterly reporting on caseloads and spending to legislative committees. These changes directly affect families with seriously ill children and the state health department responsible for administering the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Massachusetts law to standardize how addiction treatment is provided to people in correctional facilities, ensuring they receive care based on clinical evidence rather than policy restrictions. It requires jails and prisons to offer medication for addiction treatment within 24 hours of admission if a specialist deems it necessary and prohibits denying treatment or issuing disciplinary penalties based on positive drug tests. The legislation also mandates that facilities maintain the capacity to provide these medications, allows individuals to request treatment at any time, and ensures that current treatment plans are continued or adjusted only based on medical need. By integrating these requirements into state statutes, the bill aims to create consistent access to evidence-based care for incarcerated individuals across the Commonwealth.