Sen. Becca Rausch

Maddy summaryThis Massachusetts bill requires health insurance plans to cover full spectrum pregnancy care without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing fees. It applies to most state-regulated plans but allows insurers to charge fees if doing so would cause them to lose their federal tax-exempt status. The legislation also mandates that insurance companies cannot impose unreasonable restrictions or delays on accessing these services. State regulators are tasked with ensuring that all health plans comply with these new coverage requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities by requiring health insurance companies in Massachusetts to pay safety net hospitals at rates comparable to their statewide average. It specifically targets acute care hospitals that treat at least 25% of their patients through Medicaid and serve communities facing health inequities due to race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Under this law, commercial insurance rates are considered presumptively disapproved if they do not reimburse these designated hospitals at or above the carrier's average commercial price for both inpatient and outpatient services. Insurance carriers must annually certify to the state that they are meeting this minimum threshold for each qualifying hospital. The policy takes effect for rate years beginning on or after January 1, 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that community health centers in Massachusetts receive reimbursement for patient services using a specific payment method known as a prospective payment system. The legislation mandates that this payment methodology must align with federal standards established in the United States Code as of January 1, 2023. By amending state laws regarding insurance and health care financing, the bill ensures that both public programs and private insurers reimburse these centers in a standardized way. The primary goal is to create consistency in how these health centers are paid for the care they provide.

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 creates a new cost-sharing assistance program in Massachusetts to help people with low incomes pay for their health insurance deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance. It specifically targets individuals earning up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level who are already enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans. Under the program, eligible applicants would receive supplemental coverage that fills the gap between the costs of their current employer plan and a comparable plan available through the state health insurance connector. The legislation also requires the state health insurance connector authority to evaluate the program's impact on healthcare access and equity, with a final report due by December 1, 2029. Finally, the program is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority to run a five-year pilot program that expands health insurance subsidies to individuals earning up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level. Under the plan, people with incomes between 300 and 500 percent of the poverty line would be eligible for coverage plans that meet at least 90 percent of actuarial value, while those below 300 percent would continue to receive existing assistance. The program would be funded using money from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund and is scheduled to run from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2028. An independent evaluation will track the program's effects on medical access, costs, and health equity, with results reported to state officials in 2026 and 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to exclude specific health care reimbursement payments received by veterans from their gross household income calculations. By adding these funds to the list of excluded income sources, the legislation aims to prevent them from being counted when determining eligibility for means-tested government benefits. The change directly affects veterans who receive Chapter 115 payments to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, ensuring these funds do not reduce their access to financial assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve access to telehealth services and address digital inequality for patients in Massachusetts. It requires state agencies to link the application process for affordable internet programs with the portal used to apply for other health benefits, helping those who need reliable internet to use telehealth. Additionally, the bill restricts insurance companies from requiring prior authorization for telehealth visits if they do not require it for in-person appointments and mandates that telehealth coverage includes reimbursement for interpreter services for patients with limited English proficiency or hearing impairments.

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.