Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 171: An Act to support maternal health

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 171) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to support maternal health by providing financial assistance to an eligible pregnant person. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides financial assistance for maternal health, directly funding healthcare access for pregnant people through targeted support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 2, 2026

H 4258: An Act relative to allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers

By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Adam J. Scanlon for legislation to authorize spouses to serve as caregivers in the MassHealth program for home-based care and services. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands MassHealth home care access by authorizing spouses as paid caregivers, directly improving patient access to covered services under public health program.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 2073: An Act to prohibit mandatory overtime

This bill prohibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers in specific Massachusetts facilities, including hospitals and certain correctional facilities (excluding long-term care and most correctional settings). It allows overtime only during true emergencies with no reasonable alternatives, requires facilities to seek voluntary coverage first, and limits consecutive work to 16 hours with 8 hours off afterward. Facilities must report all mandatory overtime use to health authorities, and workers cannot face retaliation for refusing overtime beyond these limits. The law directly affects nurses, support staff, and other healthcare personnel in covered facilities, aiming to protect patient safety and staff well-being.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, reducing burnout and improving patient care quality - directly supports healthcare workforce stability and safety.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers, directly protecting workers' rights and improving workplace safety in labor context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 14, 2025

S 1487: An Act establishing the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1487) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation to establish the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. Public Health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to enable cross-state practice, improving mental health service access under Public Health95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 3986: An Act relative to addressing delayed patient discharges

HD 2424 requires Massachusetts health insurance companies to hire dedicated care coordinators available outside business hours to resolve discharge authorization issues and ensure timely patient releases. It mandates that insurers provide hospitals with real-time electronic access to patient insurance details and send timely updates on discharge status. Hospitals must collaborate with insurers using these platforms, while non-compliant insurers face fines up to $10,000 per violation and public reporting. The Department of Public Health will enforce the law, conduct compliance audits, and issue annual reports tracking delayed discharges and entity compliance rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAddresses delayed patient discharges, improving hospital efficiency and patient access to care, aligning with healthcare service enhancement indicators.85% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 2, 2026

S 799: An Act protecting patients from surprise bills related to emergency ambulance service

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 799) of Michael O. Moore for legislation relative to ambulance service reimbursement. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patients from surprise ambulance bills, preventing financial harm and improving access to emergency care.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

H 1198: An Act to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation

HD 1063 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to approve non-emergency medical transportation for specific care (dialysis, behavioral health, and post-acute services) with a minimum 3-business-day authorization period. It also mandates that insurers pay providers at least 2.5 times standard rates for these services, including wheelchair van transport. The bill directly affects patients needing these medical trips and ambulance/wheelchair service providers who receive reimbursement. Additionally, it directs the health policy commission to study reimbursement rates for non-emergency transport, including workforce impacts.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to improve patient access to non-emergency medical transportation, directly advancing healthcare access as per indicators.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 16, 2025

H 2393: An Act authorizing Massachusetts entry into the interstate medical licensure compact

HD 3377 would allow Massachusetts to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling physicians to more easily obtain licenses to practice medicine in multiple participating states. It directly affects licensed physicians seeking to practice across state lines, particularly those with a primary license in Massachusetts. The key mechanism creates an "expedited license" pathway: physicians designate Massachusetts as their "state of principal license" (based on residence, practice location, or employer), and the compact streamlines verification of their credentials across member states. Crucially, the bill specifies that physicians must follow the medical licensing rules of the state where the patient is located during any encounter, while preserving each state's full authority to discipline licenses under their own Medical Practice Act. This aims to improve healthcare access without altering existing state licensure standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state medical licensure, improving provider access to patients under Public Health framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 4609: An Act measuring the impact of Long COVID in the Commonwealth

This bill requires Massachusetts' Department of Public Health to establish a standardized system for tracking Long COVID (PASC) cases across the state. It mandates creating a surveillance definition aligned with national standards, developing a case report form to collect demographic data (like race, gender identity, and location), symptom details, and associated health conditions (such as heart disease or chronic fatigue), and conducting active surveillance starting six months after enactment. The department must publish annual public reports on Long COVID prevalence and impact, and submit a progress report to lawmakers within one year. This directly affects Massachusetts residents diagnosed with Long COVID by enabling a comprehensive understanding of the condition's scope and health system burden.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires standardized Long COVID tracking via public health surveillance, enhancing data collection for healthcare response planning and resource allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Oct 14, 2025

H 4429: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

H 4429 is a supplemental appropriations bill for Massachusetts' fiscal year 2025, adding funding to existing state budgets rather than creating new programs. It allocates specific sums to current operations, including $700,000 for the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, $12 million for school meals, $2.05 billion for MassHealth payments, and $18.5 million for public health hospitals. The bill provides these supplemental funds from the General Fund or Transitional Escrow Fund, with most amounts available through June 2026, to support ongoing state services and address unanticipated needs. It directly affects state agencies and programs already funded in the annual budget, not new policy initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2.05B for MassHealth, $12M for school meals, and other essential services from existing funds, strengthening public program funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $12 million for school meals under K-12 education funding, directly advancing educational access and operations through supplemental appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $2.05 billion for MassHealth payments, directly strengthening public health coverage and funding existing healthcare programs without defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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