Healthcare

signed · Massachusetts · House Aug 10, 2026

H 5595: An Act prioritizing patient access to care

This bill, titled "An Act prioritizing patient access to care," amends Massachusetts state law to change how abortions are regulated. It removes the requirement that abortions must be performed only to preserve a patient's life or health or due to specific fetal diagnoses, replacing those criteria with a standard based solely on a physician's professional judgment. Additionally, the bill prevents any medical review process from overriding a doctor's decision to perform an abortion when a patient or their health care proxy requests it. These changes directly affect physicians, patients, and healthcare facilities by expanding the circumstances under which abortions can be legally provided.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes restrictive abortion criteria, expanding patient access to care and protecting physician judgment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

passed both · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 4706: An Act to improve Massachusetts home care

H 4706 establishes a licensing system for home care agencies in Massachusetts, requiring them to obtain and maintain a license from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. It mandates background checks for all home care workers (including criminal history, federal exclusion lists, and driving records for drivers), sets minimum standards for consumer service plans and contracts, and requires agencies to carry workers' compensation and liability insurance. The bill also mandates annual training for workers on topics like abuse reporting, dementia care, safety, and privacy. This directly affects home care agencies, home care workers, and the thousands of Massachusetts residents receiving home care services in their homes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates licensing, background checks, service standards, and insurance for home care agencies, directly improving quality and safety of healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates workers' compensation insurance and background checks for home care workers, directly protecting worker rights and safety standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 25, 2026

S 3106: An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices

Senate, June 1, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill Toxic-Free Medical Devices Act of 2025 (Senate, No. 2579),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft entitled "An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices" (Senate, No. 3050).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes 'toxic-free' medical devices, aiming to improve patient safety and protect public health by reducing exposure to harmful substances.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House May 21, 2026

H 5441: An Act relative to newborn screenings for congenital cytomegalovirus

This bill mandates that Massachusetts begin offering universal newborn screenings for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) starting July 1, 2027. The legislation requires hospitals and birthing facilities to test all newborns using saliva or urine PCR tests, with results shared with parents, doctors, and the state within 21 days of birth. Healthcare providers must also provide expectant parents with evidence-based information about CMV prevention and support resources during prenatal and postnatal care visits. While the bill includes a religious exemption allowing parents to opt out of the screening, it also establishes a new advisory committee to oversee the program's implementation and ensure accurate testing standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates universal newborn screenings for CMV, improving early detection and protecting public health.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Massachusetts · Senate May 20, 2026

S 2581: An Act to promote student learning and mental health

Senate, July 31, 2025 -- Text of the Senate Bill to promote student learning and mental health (Senate, No. 2581) (being the text of Senate document numbered 2561, printed as amended)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly promotes student learning and mental health, directly advancing educational outcomes and student well-being in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly promotes mental health services for students, directly aligning with topic's mental health focus and support indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Apr 8, 2026

H 5349: Amendment H.5349

Text of amendments, recommended by the committee on Ways and Means, to the Senate Bill to promote student learning and mental health (Senate, No. 2581, amended). April 7, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to promote student learning and mental health, indicating a supportive stance toward educational well-being.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to promote student mental health, which directly supports mental health services under the healthcare topic.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 29, 2026

H 4993: An Act requiring automated external defibrillators at sporting events

This bill requires public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums, and similar facilities hosting sporting events to have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on-site during all events. It also mandates that at least one trained employee or volunteer (having completed certified CPR and AED training) be present during events, with clear signage showing AED locations. The requirement excludes school-sponsored athletic events held in school gyms. Facilities must follow established guidelines for AED placement, training, and public announcements to identify trained personnel if needed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires AEDs and trained personnel at public events to improve emergency cardiac care access, enhancing public health safety measures without direct funding or coverage expansion.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Oct 15, 2025

H 4601: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.

This bill, H 4601, is a fiscal year 2025 appropriations measure that allocates specific funds to Massachusetts state agencies and programs. It directly affects state operations by supplementing existing budgets, including $2.05 billion for MassHealth fee-for-service payments, $35 million for housing preservation, $15 million for World Cup event support, and $60.7 million for snow removal services. Key mechanisms include re-appropriating unspent funds from previous years and creating new funding reserves for specific purposes like reproductive health care continuity and substance use disorder treatment facilities. The bill ensures these funds are available through June 2026, supplementing existing appropriations without creating new policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $2.05B for MassHealth, $35M housing preservation, and $60.7M snow removal, directly funding essential public services and supplementing existing budgets.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $2.05B for MassHealth fee-for-service payments, directly funding healthcare coverage under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates $35 million specifically for housing preservation, directly funding housing stability efforts per the summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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signed · Massachusetts · House Sep 22, 2025

H 4530: An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

This bill appropriates $122 million for fiscal year 2025 to support financially struggling hospitals in Massachusetts. It directly affects eligible private acute care hospitals meeting specific criteria, including high public payer mix (63-68%), negative operating margins, and low relative pricing, as defined by the Center for Health Information and Analysis. Funds are distributed through targeted categories: $20 million for hospitals with >68% public payers, $41 million for others meeting slightly lower thresholds, and additional sums for public hospitals and community health centers. Payments cannot replace existing Medicaid or state funding, and hospitals must report how they use the funds. The bill is now law (Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2025).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $122M in state funds for hospital support, directly increasing budgetary spending on essential healthcare services per fiscal year 2025 needs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $122M to financially struggling hospitals with high public payer mix, directly strengthening healthcare infrastructure and access through targeted funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Massachusetts · Senate Aug 7, 2025

S 2543: An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth

Senate, June 26, 2025 -- Text of the Senate Bill strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth (Senate, No. 2543) (being the text of Senate, No. 2538, printed as amended).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill title explicitly states 'strengthening health care protections' with no ambiguity in language or intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare