Healthcare

in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4899: An Act enhancing post-pregnancy mental health care

This bill (H 4899) requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover post-pregnancy mental health care - including postpartum and post-miscarriage care - without any out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or copays. It applies to both private insurance and Medicaid plans, ensuring coverage is equally available to enrollees and their spouses or dependents. The law explicitly adds this care to existing pregnancy-related coverage requirements in multiple sections of state health laws and prohibits unreasonable delays or restrictions in accessing these services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no-cost coverage for post-pregnancy mental health care under all insurance plans, expanding access and protecting patient rights per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Women's Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

HD 5614: An Act for long-term coverage of gender affirming care medications

This bill requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover prescription medications for gender-affirming care services as defined in state law. It mandates coverage for up to a 12-month period for subsequent dispensings of the same medication, allowing full or partial dispensing within that timeframe. Coverage must be provided regardless of enrollment status when the prescription was first issued, but insurers are not required to cover more than one 12-month prescription per plan year. The bill directly affects insured individuals seeking ongoing gender-affirming medication treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for gender-affirming medications, expanding access to healthcare services per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 4933: An Act relative to colon cancer screening

H 4933 requires Massachusetts health insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screening with no out-of-pocket costs for people aged 30 and older. It applies to Commonwealth employees (active and retired), Medicaid recipients, private insurance policies, and employer health plans. The law mandates coverage for multiple screening methods - including colonoscopy every 5-10 years, annual stool tests, and other medically necessary procedures - as recommended by a doctor. Crucially, it eliminates copays, deductibles, and other cost-sharing for these screenings, except for tax-exempt plans that would lose status if cost-sharing were prohibited.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates zero-cost colorectal cancer screening coverage for multiple insurance types, expanding preventive care access without patient cost-sharing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4986: An Act relative to therapeutic psilocybin treatment centers

H 4986 establishes a 5-site pilot program for non-profit therapeutic psilocybin centers in specific Massachusetts regions (western, central, North Shore, South Shore, and Metro Boston). Licensed centers, operated by trained medical professionals, must provide supervised treatment in safe facilities with qualified staff, adhere to safety protocols, and maintain affordable pricing. The bill protects participants, staff, and facility owners from criminal charges or penalties for lawful participation in licensed centers. It requires the Department of Public Health to report annually on program data, including participant visits, referrals, and safety outcomes, for review by legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill decriminalizes therapeutic psilocybin use by shielding participants/staff from criminal penalties, reducing unnecessary criminalization in line with reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes regulated mental health treatment centers using psilocybin, expanding access to novel therapeutic services under healthcare framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4935: An Act to strengthen the control of contagious and infectious diseases in the Commonwealth

H 4935 requires health insurance plans and medical assistance programs in Massachusetts to cover prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases designated by the commissioner as "of heightened public health importance" without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) or prior authorization. It applies to all health coverage under specific Massachusetts laws, including group insurance (Chapter 32A), Medicaid (Chapter 118E), and individual hospital/surgical plans (Chapters 175, 176A, 176B, 176G). The commissioner must publicly list designated diseases, review the list annually, and notify insurers and providers. An exception allows cost-sharing for tax-exempt plans that would lose their status if prohibited.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no cost-sharing for covered diseases, expanding access to prevention/treatment services under MA health plans including Medicaid and group insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Public Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 31, 2026

H 4893: An Act to support behavioral health prevention for children

H 4893 requires health insurance plans in Massachusetts to cover at least six sessions of preventive behavioral health services for individuals under 21 who have a positive screening for depression, anxiety, or other emotional concerns (or for infants whose caregivers screen positive for postpartum depression), without cost-sharing or prior authorization. This applies to group insurance plans for state employees, private insurance policies, and health plans governed by state law, covering individual, family, or group sessions delivered in pediatric primary care, community, or school settings. Insurers must accept alternative diagnosis codes (like Social Determinants of Health Z-codes) for billing these services. The bill directly affects children, adolescents, and infants with early behavioral health screenings by mandating accessible, no-cost preventive care to help prevent more severe conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for preventive behavioral health services without cost-sharing for minors, expanding access to mental health care as required by the bill.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 27, 2026

H 4958: An Act relative to opioid use disorder treatment and rehabilitation coverage

This bill (H 4958) requires all health insurance plans in Massachusetts - covering Commonwealth employees, Medicaid recipients, and private insurance policies - to provide full coverage for medications treating opioid use disorder, including opioid antagonists and agonists (like methadone or buprenorphine). It eliminates prior authorization requirements and removes all out-of-pocket costs (deductibles, copays, coinsurance) for these medications, treating them as medically necessary. The coverage applies whether the medication is dispensed by a pharmacy or administered at a treatment facility, with facilities reimbursed at standard rates to prevent balance billing. This directly affects patients seeking opioid use disorder treatment and the insurers/health plans providing their coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates full insurance coverage for opioid treatment medications without cost-sharing or prior authorization, eliminating access barriers and treating as medically necessary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Substance Abuse

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 30, 2026

H 4895: An Act expanding access to mental health services

H 4895 removes preauthorization requirements for insured patients seeking specific mental health services, including inpatient psychiatric care, crisis stabilization, substance use disorder treatment, and community-based acute care. It directly affects Commonwealth employees with group insurance and Medicaid recipients by ensuring coverage for these services without prior insurer approval. Key provisions require facilities to notify insurers within 3 business days of admission (limited to basic patient and treatment details) while guaranteeing coverage for services provided before notification. The bill also expands the definition of "licensed mental health professional" to include more provider types, such as licensed clinical social workers and master's-level clinicians under supervision. These changes aim to streamline access to critical mental health care by reducing administrative barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves preauthorization barriers for mental health services, ensuring coverage without prior insurer approval for critical care, directly expanding patient access to mental health treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Insurance Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Apr 15, 2026

H 4898: An Act relative to dual diagnosis treatment coverage

This bill (H 4898) requires Massachusetts health insurers and Medicaid to cover specific addiction and mental health treatment services without preauthorization. It defines three key services: "acute treatment" (24-hour medically supervised addiction care), "clinical stabilization" (post-detox recovery support), and "co-occurring treatment" (inpatient psychiatric care for dual diagnosis). The law mandates coverage for up to 14 days for clinical stabilization and co-occurring services, with facilities required to notify insurers within 48 hours of admission. It directly affects Commonwealth employees (via Group Insurance Commission), Medicaid beneficiaries, and private insurers offering hospital/surgical coverage in Massachusetts. Medical necessity is determined by clinicians, not insurers, streamlining access to critical early recovery care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer/Medicaid coverage of addiction/mental health services without preauthorization, expanding access and protecting patient rights for dual diagnosis treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 15, 2026

S 2928: An Act to establish a celiac disease screening pilot program

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2928) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Joan B. Lovely and Michelle L. Badger for legislation to establish a celiac disease screening pilot program. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes celiac disease screening pilot program under public health, advancing preventive healthcare access and services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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