Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2198: An Act reducing emergency department boarding

HD 2148 limits involuntary emergency holds to 72 hours at facilities not authorized by the department to perform psychiatric evaluations, requiring immediate release after that period. For psychiatric holds lasting over 48 hours at such facilities, the bill mandates referral to the Committee for Public Counsel Services to appoint legal counsel. This directly affects patients in emergency departments and the hospitals managing their care, changing how facilities handle extended involuntary holds. The law establishes specific time limits and legal safeguards for patients held in non-authorized facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces emergency department boarding delays, improving patient access to care for mental health services as specified in bill's subject area.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2197: An Act ensuring access to addiction services

This bill redefines "facility" to exclude jails and correctional entities, ensuring only dedicated treatment centers provide care for substance use disorders. It requires the health department to maintain a public roster of available treatment beds (including secure facilities) and mandates geographic distribution of secure facilities across Massachusetts. Courts can commit individuals to secure facilities only when specific security needs are documented, and released patients may voluntarily continue treatment. The bill also explicitly states correctional facilities must still offer voluntary evidence-based treatment to incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to 'ensure access to addiction services' under mental health/substance use, directly expanding healthcare access and aligning with support indicators like improving patient access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 3956: An Act exempting Fairview Hospital from determination of need requirements

This bill (HD 3420) exempts Fairview Hospital from Massachusetts' "determination of need" requirement under Public Health law. This requirement typically applies to new hospital facilities or major expansions to ensure community health needs are met without unnecessary duplication. The bill directly affects Fairview Hospital by allowing it to proceed with certain expansions or new projects without first undergoing this state review process. It is a procedural change specific to this hospital, not a broader policy shift.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempting Fairview Hospital from 'determination of need' requirements facilitates service expansion and improves healthcare access, aligning with support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 29, 2025

H 1223: An Act to ensure access to scalp and facial hair prostheses for children and adults with alopecia areata

This bill requires Massachusetts health insurance plans to cover scalp hair prostheses and facial medical pigmentation (such as artificial eyebrows) for individuals with hair loss due to alopecia areata, alopecia totalis, non-classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency, or injury (excluding natural aging). Insurance must provide this coverage without discrimination, based on a physician's written certification of medical necessity, and at the same level as coverage for hair loss from chemotherapy. The requirement applies to individual/group accident/sickness insurance, hospital service plans, and health maintenance contracts. This ensures people with these specific conditions can access necessary prostheses without facing coverage gaps or additional out-of-pocket costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health insurance coverage for scalp/facial hair prostheses for alopecia patients, expanding coverage access under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 2382: An Act relative to office-based surgical centers

This bill amends the legal definition of "office-based surgical center" in Massachusetts law. It defines such centers as offices or facilities owned/operated by medical practitioners (solo or group) providing surgical services, while explicitly excluding hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and facilities following specific surgical guidelines. The definition also clarifies that dental practices and oral/maxillofacial surgery by licensed dentists are not covered under this definition. This change directly affects medical practices operating in non-hospital settings seeking to provide surgical services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill regulates office-based surgical centers under Public Health, establishing safety standards to improve patient access and protect rights in healthcare delivery.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 824: An Act relative to IUD pain management coverage

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 824) of Rebecca L. Rausch, John F. Keenan and Manny Cruz for legislation relative to coverage for pain medication for IUD procedures. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for pain medication during IUD procedures, expanding patient access to pain management services within healthcare coverage.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 2540: An Act relative to the community health initiative payment

HD 3249 waives a specific community health initiative requirement for nursing facility applicants seeking to build a geropsychiatric unit. This applies only to applicants who previously had to file a "determination of need" to meet the Department of Public Health's requirement to reduce overcrowding. The bill directly affects nursing facility developers planning facilities with geropsychiatric units that would otherwise need to comply with the waived initiative. It changes the Department's enforcement of this requirement for those specific applicants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates nursing facility requirements under public health, strengthening oversight of community health initiatives per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 2, 2025

H 652: An Act providing for diabetes management in schools

This bill (HD 1308) updates school diabetes care protocols by allowing licensed school nurses to delegate low blood sugar treatment and symptom monitoring to trained health aides under direct supervision. It specifies that insulin delivery (via pump or syringe) and parenteral medication must still be administered only by licensed school nurses, as required by existing regulations. The bill directly affects students with type 1 diabetes, school nurses, and health aides, requiring proper training and supervision for delegated tasks. It also mandates that students with diabetes be placed in classrooms with existing instructional support staff, and permits glucose monitoring in classrooms by trained nurses if parents and physicians approve.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes diabetes management protocols in schools, directly supporting student health and educational access within K-12 settings per its Education subject classification.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates diabetes management protocols in schools, enhancing student health access and care for chronic conditions within healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 782: An Act to strengthen the state home care program workforce

This bill requires home care agencies providing state-funded home care services to enter into labor peace agreements with labor organizations representing their workers, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. Agencies must submit regular attestations to the Department of Elder Affairs detailing their labor relations status, including whether agreements exist, negotiations are underway, or no union representation is sought. Failure to comply may result in contract termination and a four-year ban on future state contracts for repeated violations. The policy directly affects home care agencies, workers, and the state's home care program participants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to strengthen home care workforce, directly advancing healthcare service delivery (H 782).95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to 'strengthen' the home care program workforce, aligning with advancing worker protections and program funding in labor/employment context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 8, 2025

H 2704: An Act relative to the postpartum treatment of women in correctional facilities

HD 826 requires correctional facilities to keep incarcerated women in the hospital after childbirth until two medical professionals approve discharge: the attending physician must certify the mother's safety, and the infant's pediatrician must confirm the baby has had sufficient time with the mother (up to a maximum of 72 hours) to ensure the infant's health. This bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women in state correctional facilities and their newborn infants. The key provision replaces the previous language with a specific 72-hour maximum stay requirement tied to medical assessments for both mother and infant. The law aims to ensure both the mother's and infant's health are medically verified before transfer back to the facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates postpartum care for women in correctional facilities, improving healthcare conditions within the corrections system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires postpartum healthcare for incarcerated women, expanding access to essential medical services in correctional facilities95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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