Healthcare (Telehealth)

introduced · Massachusetts · House Jul 23, 2026

HD 5843: A report of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (under Section 109 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting a report from the Massachusetts Telehealth Task Force

This report details the work of the Massachusetts Telehealth Task Force, which was created to study how doctors can legally provide virtual care to patients in other states. The group examined various strategies, such as joining interstate licensing agreements or creating special registration systems, to help physicians maintain continuity of care for mobile patients. The task force analyzed these models to identify ways to remove barriers that currently prevent doctors licensed in Massachusetts from treating patients who travel temporarily outside the state. Ultimately, the document presents findings and recommendations to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on how to improve access to telehealth services across state lines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill facilitates interstate telehealth access, expanding patient care options and removing barriers for mobile patients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Apr 15, 2026

H 5018: An Act increasing access to acute hospital at home services

H 5018 requires all health insurance policies in Massachusetts - covering group, individual, and hospital service plans - to reimburse hospital-at-home services equally with in-person care. It applies to any policy providing hospital or surgical coverage (excluding Medicare supplemental plans) and mandates coverage for services from hospitals participating in the federal CMS Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. The law ensures insurers pay for these services at the same rate as traditional hospital visits, without additional patient cost-sharing. This affects all Massachusetts health insurers and their policyholders, including Commonwealth employees covered under group insurance. The bill does not create new services but standardizes existing insurance coverage for this care option.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal insurance reimbursement for hospital-at-home services vs in-person care, expanding patient access to acute care without coverage barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Telehealth

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 5017: An Act relative to telehealth and digital equity for patients

This bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover and reimburse new telehealth services, including e-consults (provider-to-provider digital advice), e-visits (patient-initiated digital check-ins), and remote monitoring of health data. It directly affects patients seeking virtual care, healthcare providers delivering telehealth services, and insurance carriers. Key provisions mandate coverage for these services without extra prior authorization compared to in-person visits, include interpreter services for non-English speakers or Deaf patients, and require insurers to offer digital health literacy programs for patients with low tech skills. The bill also creates a shared portal for applying to affordable broadband programs to support digital access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for telehealth services, expanding patient access to virtual care without prior authorization barriers95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates insurance coverage for telehealth services including remote monitoring, promoting digital equity in healthcare access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth Broadband Access

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 5019: An Act relative to access to health care

This bill requires Massachusetts state employee health plans and Medicaid programs to cover stuttering speech therapy as either habilitative (helping develop skills) or rehabilitative (restoring lost skills) services. It mandates coverage without annual visit limits, restrictions based on the cause of stuttering, or prior authorization. The law also requires coverage for both in-person and telehealth speech therapy services, including all necessary technology compliant with privacy laws. It directly affects Commonwealth employees, retirees, and Medicaid recipients by ensuring access to this specific therapy without typical insurance barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/state plans to cover stuttering therapy without visit limits or restrictions, expanding access to speech therapy services as required healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Telehealth

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 715: An Act relative to consumer health data

This bill creates new rules for how companies in Massachusetts handle consumers' health information. It directly affects businesses that collect health data (like fitness apps, health insurers, or telemedicine services) by requiring clear, specific consent before gathering or sharing such data. Key provisions include banning deceptive website designs meant to trick users into agreeing, prohibiting consent obtained through broad terms of service, and defining strict limits on selling health data to third parties. The law also clarifies that precise location data used to find health services is protected under these rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires clear consent for health data collection, bans deceptive practices, and protects patient privacy rights under healthcare data handling.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires explicit consent for health data use, bans deceptive consent tactics, and restricts data selling - directly enhancing consumer data privacy protections in tech.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Consumer Data Protection

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 544: An Act to provide funding for the African Diaspora Mental Health Association's State-of-the-Art Clinic

This bill appropriates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the African Diaspora Mental Health Association (ADMHA) in Springfield, Massachusetts, to complete its new mental health and substance use disorder clinic and expand services. The funding will cover physical infrastructure, telehealth technology, culturally tailored programs for opioid recovery and violence prevention, staff training on cultural competence, and community outreach initiatives. ADMHA, the only minority-owned mental health clinic in Western Massachusetts, will use the funds to directly serve African American and underserved communities. ADMHA must report on fund usage and program outcomes to the state within one year of receiving the funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.5M from state general fund to fund mental health clinic, directly increasing public service funding for essential community health services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $1.5M to fund a mental health clinic, covering infrastructure, telehealth, culturally tailored programs, and staff training for substance use and mental health services, directly expanding healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Substance Abuse Telehealth

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1469: An Act relative to the well-being of law enforcement officers after involvement in a critical incident

This bill requires Massachusetts law enforcement agencies to create and maintain formal support programs for officers involved in critical incidents - such as line-of-duty deaths, life-threatening injuries, or traumatic events affecting officers or their families. The programs must include pre-incident training, immediate safety protocols, confidential mental health services (including telehealth), peer support, and return-to-duty guidelines. Agencies must review and update these programs at least every two years. The policy directly affects law enforcement officers, their families, and significant others by mandating accessible, structured support following traumatic incidents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes mental health support for law enforcement officers after critical incidents, enhancing officer well-being and operational effectiveness within law enforcement framework.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates confidential mental health services (including telehealth) for law enforcement officers, directly advancing healthcare access through required support programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 945: An Act relative to telehealth and digital equity for patients

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 763) of Adam Gomez, Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Manny Cruz, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to telehealth and digital equity for patients. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes telehealth access and digital equity, enhancing patient access to healthcare services per its title and summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly addresses digital equity for telehealth access, promoting internet access and digital rights as core components of patient care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 27, 2026

H 4340: An Act relative to telehealth parity for nutrition counseling

H 4340 requires health insurance plans and providers to pay the same rate for telehealth nutrition counseling as they do for in-person sessions. It specifically applies to licensed dietitians/nutritionists providing medical nutrition therapy (nutrition care for disease prevention, management, or treatment) via video or phone calls. The bill mandates equal reimbursement rates for telehealth services under most health insurance policies, including employer plans and hospital service corporations, ensuring providers aren’t penalized for offering virtual care. This directly affects dietitians/nutritionists and insurers covering these services in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance reimbursement for telehealth nutrition counseling, improving patient access to medical nutrition therapy services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Public Health Telehealth

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 716: An Act relative to telehealth parity for nutrition counseling

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 716) of Julian Cyr for legislation relative to telehealth parity for nutrition counseling. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates telehealth parity for nutrition counseling, ensuring equal insurance coverage as in-person visits, expanding patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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