By Representative Moran of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 782) of Frank A. Moran and others relative to the home care program workforce. Elder Affairs.
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2371) of Christine P. Barber and others relative to the licensing, supervision and scope of practice of physicians assistants. Public Health.
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2397) of Marjorie C. Decker, Daniel Cahill and John Francis Moran relative to establishing a nursing workforce center at the University of Massachusetts medical school. Public Health.
By Mr. Brady, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1787) of Michael D. Brady for legislation relative to credible service for school nurses. Public Service.
HD 1176 allows Massachusetts schools to maintain emergency asthma medication supplies (bronchodilators, spacers, nebulizers) for students with asthma. It requires schools to have an asthma action plan from a healthcare provider and written parental permission for each student using the medication. Trained school staff (not just nurses), called "designated unlicensed assistive personnel," can administer the medication under a school nurse's direction, following specific safety protocols. The bill also mandates annual reporting on medication use and provides legal immunity for school staff who follow its procedures, protecting them from liability in good-faith emergency situations.
This bill requires all Massachusetts public school staff - including educators, health providers, and new hires - to complete biennial suicide prevention training using evidence-based methods. It mandates schools to have at least one mental health professional for every 400 students by January 2027. The training must be integrated into existing professional development, and schools must provide suicide prevention materials to new staff within 30 days of hiring. These provisions directly affect school districts, educators, and students by standardizing suicide prevention resources and staffing ratios.
This bill (HD 2328) requires all acute-care hospitals and nursing homes in Massachusetts to include a registered nurse (RN) with a current, active license as a voting member on their governing board. The RN must help develop the organization's strategic plan, structure, systems, policies, and programs. It directly affects hospital and nursing home governance by mandating RN representation on boards that make key operational decisions. The requirement applies to all facilities meeting the definitions in the law, ensuring nurse input in leadership planning.
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 697) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation relative to insurance coverage and access to nurse-midwifery services. Financial Services.
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 801) of Michael O. Moore relative to diagnostic evaluation by an advanced practice registered nurse. Financial Services.
H 4618 requires health insurers and government health plans to reimburse certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) at the same rate as physicians for comparable services, eliminating reimbursement disparities. It applies to Commonwealth employee health plans, Medicaid managed care, and private insurance policies covering hospital/surgical care. The bill mandates that claims must include the provider's National Provider Identifier and explicitly prohibits reducing physician payments to fund CRNA reimbursements. Key provisions ensure CRNAs and physicians receive identical payment rates when acting within their licensed scope, while allowing equal quality-based reimbursement adjustments for both groups.
