Healthcare

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 4490: An Act prohibiting discrimination against 340b drug discount program participants

This bill prohibits discrimination against entities participating in the federal 340B drug discount program. It requires insurers and drug distributors to pay 340B-covered entities (like community health centers and safety-net hospitals) and their contract pharmacies the same rate as non-340B providers for covered drugs, without imposing special requirements or modifiers for 340B drugs. The law also protects patients' choice to receive 340B drugs from participating providers without interference. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Massachusetts law, enforced by the Attorney General and pharmacy board. The bill directly affects 340B program participants, their pharmacy partners, insurers, and drug manufacturers/distributors operating in Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits discrimination against 340B providers, ensuring equal drug pricing for safety-net hospitals and community health centers, directly improving patient access to affordable medications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 4489: An Act to ensure affordable prescription medications through accountability standards

Bill H 4489 requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose pricing information - including wholesale cost trends, research spending, and explanations for price changes - to a state commission. The commission reviews this data to assess whether drug pricing is unreasonable compared to a "proposed value" and then issues public recommendations, such as bulk purchasing programs or adjusted insurance costs, to improve affordability. Manufacturers face potential civil penalties of up to $500,000 for non-compliance or providing false information. The bill explicitly states its process does not affect individual patient treatment decisions or health plan coverage determinations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires drug pricing transparency and commission review to improve affordability, directly advancing patient access to medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 22, 2026

H 1165: An Act providing for certain health insurance coverage

This bill requires all health insurance plans in Massachusetts - including those covering state employees, group plans, and individual policies - to cover the cost of specialized medical formulas (for home use, administered orally or via tube feeding) when prescribed by a doctor for specific serious conditions. It applies to policies governed by Massachusetts law, including group insurance, hospital service plans, and medical service agreements. Coverage is limited to formulas proven effective for conditions like inherited metabolic disorders, Crohn's disease, or severe food allergies, as documented by a physician's written order stating medical necessity. The bill explicitly distinguishes these medically required formulas from general nutritional supplements taken without a medical need.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to provide health insurance coverage, advancing patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1268: An Act supporting maternal and pediatric health

HD 963 requires all health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover "prenatal pediatric visits" - defined as appointments between a pregnant person and a pediatrician to establish a family-pediatric partnership - as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill directly affects state employees, Medicaid members, and individuals with private health insurance, group hospital plans, and health maintenance contracts. Key provisions mandate coverage for these visits in state employee plans (Ch. 32A), Medicaid managed care (Ch. 118E), private health insurance (Ch. 175), and other covered plans (Chs. 176A, 176B, 176G). Insurers must also provide written notice to members about this coverage, prominently included in annual communications. The policy change standardizes this specific preventive care coverage across multiple insurance categories without altering eligibility or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly seeks expanded healthcare insurance coverage for maternal/pediatric health, directly advancing coverage access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate May 18, 2026

S 691: An Act ensuring access to healthcare and medically necessary food for children

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 691) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to ensure access to healthcare and medically necessary food for children. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly ensures healthcare access for children, directly aligning with support indicators like improved patient access and expanded coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 22, 2026

H 1137: An Act to strengthen the control of contagious and infectious diseases in the Commonwealth

HD 2178 allows the commissioner to designate contagious or infectious diseases of heightened public health importance. Once designated, health insurance plans, Medicaid programs, and other covered health plans must provide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services without cost sharing (like copays or deductibles) or prior authorization. The requirement applies broadly to group health insurance, individual policies, and medical assistance programs, with limited exceptions for tax-exempt plans that would lose status under federal law. The commissioner must maintain a public list of designated diseases and review it annually to renew or remove designations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses cost sharing for infectious disease healthcare services, reducing patient financial barriers and improving access to critical care.85% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 1381: An Act expanding access to mental health services and strengthening risk assessment protocols

SD 472 expands who can initiate emergency mental health hospitalization by adding licensed mental health counselors to the list of professionals authorized to request a 3-day hold for individuals posing a risk of serious harm to themselves or others. The bill amends Chapter 123 to include licensed mental health counselors alongside physicians, psychologists, and clinical social workers when evaluating emergency cases, and allows them to apply directly for hospitalization. It also updates provisions to include counselors in police officer protocols for emergency referrals. This change directly affects mental health counselors by granting them new authority in crisis situations and impacts individuals in acute mental health crises by expanding access to emergency evaluation. The bill modifies existing emergency protocols without creating new services or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly expands mental health access and strengthens protocols, directly advancing healthcare services per title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2194: An Act petitioning for an emergency restraint bill

This bill amends a law governing mental health hospitalization procedures. It adds an exception allowing police to bypass standard hospitalization protocols for individuals who have been arrested and detained, provided a police officer has already submitted a formal petition for hospitalization under existing rules. The change directly affects people in mental health crises who are also under arrest, streamlining the process for police to initiate hospitalization. The key mechanism requires police to file a specific petition before hospitalization can proceed for arrested individuals, altering the prior process where general hospitalization rules applied.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes emergency restraint procedures for mental health crises, enhancing access to urgent care services within mental health framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 692: An Act to facilitate timely access to quality health care by expanding access to patient navigation

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 692) of Brendan P. Crighton, James B. Eldridge and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to facilitate timely access to quality health care by expanding access to patient navigation. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient navigation to improve healthcare access, directly aligning with support indicators for enhancing patient access to quality care.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1172: An Act relative to insurance coverage for new treatment

By Representative Gaskey of Carver, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1172) of John R. Gaskey relative to insurance coverage for gender-affirming health care services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for gender-affirming healthcare services, expanding access to a specific medical treatment under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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