Updated Bills - 2025

• H 4616 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Representative Marjorie Decker (D), H 4616 requires health insurers to post a searchable list of items, services, and medications requiring prior authorization (PA); prohibits PA for items not listed; health insurers must report annually the number of PA approvals, denials, appeals, and processing times to the state; utilization review criteria must be evidenced-based, developed with physician input; urgent PA requests must be responded to within 24 hours; PA approvals are valid for the duration of the treatment or at least one year, and dosage changes do not require new authorizations; artificial intelligence-based determinations must consider individual clinical circumstances, not rely solely on group data, and not supplant provider decision-making; health insurers must disclose the use of AI to regulators, providers, and enrollees. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee.
  
  
• H 4618 – Scope of Practice
  Introduced by Representative Paul Donato (D), H 4618 requires health insurers to recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) as physicians and provide equal reimbursement for covered services. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee.
  
  
• H 4659 – Stop the Bleed
  Introduced by Representative Marcus Vaugh (R) and the Joint Committee on Public Health, H 4659 requires trauma kits and trained personnel in public buildings; public buildings include schools, including private schools; mentions American College of Surgeons Stop the Bleed training; includes a Good Samaritan provision. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
  
  
• S 3071 – Insurance
  Introduced by Senator Patrick O'Connor (R), S 3071 requires health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary intervention treatments for port-wine stains in individuals 18 and under, including surgery. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Rules Committee.
  
  
• H 4338 – Insurance
  Introduced by Representative William Galvin (D), H 4338 prohibits health insurers from reducing payments for evaluations or procedures due to other services, such as minor surgeries, billed on the same day. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee.
  
  
• H 4339 – Prior Authorization/Biomarker
  Introduced by Representative Meghan Kilcoyne (D), H 4339 requires health insurers to cover biomarker testing; health insurers must respond to prior authorization requests within 72 hours or 24 hours if the request is urgent; if no response is provided within time requirements the request is automatically approved; requires health insurers to provide a clear process for requesting exemptions to coverage policies. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee.
  
  
• HD 4994 – Cancer
  Introduced by Representative Vanna Howard (D), HD 4994 requires health insurers to provide coverage for diagnostic breast cancer examinations on terms no less favorable than those for screening mammograms; prohibits health insurers from increasing cost-sharing for either mammograms or diagnostic breast cancer examinations. The bill was filed in the House and is pending introduction.
  
  
• HD 5039 – Medicaid/Trauma Funding
  Introduced by Representative Maura Healey (D), HD 5039 allocates $2.046 billion gross ($539.7 million net) to the state Medicaid program; allocates $1.9 million to the center on child wellbeing and trauma. The bill was filed in the House and is pending introduction.
  
  
• S 2543 – Criminalization ENACTED
  Introduced by Senator Rebecca Rausch (D), S 2543 prohibits the disclosure of health information related to reproductive and gender-affirming care in the context of out-of-state and federal investigations; shields healthcare providers from legal liability or disciplinary actions based on actions lawful in the state. Governor Maura Healey (D) signed the bill into law August 7.
  
  
• S 2572 – Criminalization
  Introduced by Senator Cindy Friedman (D), S 2572 prohibits disciplinary actions against health care providers for providing or assisting in reproductive or gender-affirming care lawful in the state; prohibits law enforcement from cooperating with or providing information to out-of-state or federal agencies regarding legally protected health care activities. The bill was filed in the Senate and is pending introduction.
  
  
• H 4001 – Cancer
  Introduced by the Ways and Means Committee, H 4001 allocates $3,368,962 for the promotion of health and disease prevention including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer prevention, screening, education, and treatment. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
  
  
• H 4044 – Tuition Reimbursement
  Introduced by Representative Rita Mendes (D), H 4044 proposes a program for any licensed physician to be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for their undergraduate, medical school tuition paid, or student loans incurred. The bill was introduced and referred to the Higher Education Committee.
  
  
• HD 3333 – Student Loan Repayment
  Introduced by Representative Rita Mendes (D), HD 3333 proposes a program for any physician licensed in the state to be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for their undergraduate or medical school tuition paid or student loans incurred. The bill was filed in the House and is pending introduction.
  
  
• S 706 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Senator John Cronin (D), S 706 requires the insurance commissioner to develop a list of services eligible for automated real-time prior authorization (PA) approvals when clinical information submitted electronically by a provider demonstrates the patient meets the medically necessary criteria; requires health insurers who require PA to implement an automated process for real-time approvals. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• SD 2808 – Criminalization
  Introduced by Senator Cindy Friedman (D), SD 2808 prohibits state or local agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into legally protected health care services; ensures health care practitioners involvement in legally protected health care services cannot be used against them in legal proceedings. The bill was filed in the Senate and is pending introduction.
  
  
• HD 4542 – Criminalization
  Introduced by Representative John Gaskey (R), HD 4542 prohibits health care providers from administering medical procedures or medications for gender re-assignment for individuals under 19 who are still in secondary school; adults 18 and older, who have graduated from secondary school, must participate in 12 months of mental health therapy before any surgical procedure; violations may result in fines, license suspension, or permanent revocation, and potential imprisonment. The bill was filed in the House and is pending introduction.
  
  
• S 706 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Senator John Cronin (D), S 706 requires the insurance commissioner to develop a list of services eligible for automated real-time prior authorization (PA) approvals when clinical information submitted electronically by a provider demonstrates the patient meets the medically necessary criteria; requires health insurers who require PA to implement an automated process for real-time approvals. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• SD 2808 – Criminalization
  Introduced by Senator Cindy Friedman (D), SD 2808 prohibits state or local agencies from cooperating with out-of-state investigations into legally protected health care services; ensures health care practitioners involvement in legally protected health care services cannot be used against them in legal proceedings. The bill was filed in the Senate and is pending introduction.
  
  
• HD 3029 – Professional Liability
  Introduced by Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D), HD 3029 prohibits contracts with physicians from restricting their ability to testify in administrative or judicial hearings, including medical malpractice cases. The bill was filed in the House and is pending introduction.
  
  
• HD 97 – Artificial Intelligence
  Introduced by Representative David Rogers (D), HD 97 requires artificial intelligence deployers to implement risk management policies, conduct impact assessments, and notify consumers when in use. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Advanced Information Technology, Internet, and Cybersecurity Committee.
  
  
• HD 1140 – Scope of Practice
  Introduced by Representative Daniel Donahue (D), HD 1140 allows advanced practice registered nurses to conduct diagnostic evaluations, determine medical necessity, and issue certifications, written orders, prescriptions, or treatment recommendations; replaces terms like "treating physician" to "treating provider" to reflect inclusion. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 1172 – Insurance
  Introduced by Representative John Gaskey (R), HD 1172 requires health insurers provide coverage for detransition-related treatments. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 1210 – Artificial Intelligence
  Introduced by Representative Bradley Jones (R), HD 1210 requires patients to be informed when artificial intelligence is used in their health care communications; patients must be provided with how to contact a human health care provider. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 1227 – Biomarker
  Introduced by Representative Meghan Kilcoyne (D), HD 1227 requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing; in cases where prior authorization is needed, decisions on standard cases must be made within 72 hours, and decisions on urgent cases must be made within 24 hours. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 1255 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Representative Christopher Markey (D), HD 1255 requires health insurers to respond to prior authorization requests within 24 hours. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 1286 – Cancer
  Introduced by Representative Edward Philips (D), HD 1286 requires health insurers to provide no cost-sharing colorectal and breast cancer screenings. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• HD 2393 – Licensure
  Introduced by Representative Marjorie Decker (D), HD 2393 enters the state into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• H 2442 – Surgical Smoke
  Introduced by Representative James Hawkins (D), HD 2442 requires hospitals and surgical facilities to use smoke evacuation systems. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Health Committee.
  
  
• HD 2459 – Concurrent Surgery
  Introduced by Representative Hannah Kane (R), HD 2459 requires informed consent for concurrent surgical procedures; patients scheduled for elective concurrent surgical procedures must receive written notice and informed consent at least 14 days prior, those scheduled for secondary emergency concurrent procedures must receive notice at least 48 hours in advance. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• HD 2484 – Scope of Practice
  Introduced by Representative Jay Livingstone (D), HD 2484 requires anesthesiologist assistants to practice under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• HD 2557 – STOP THE BLEED®
  Introduced by Representative Marcus Vaughn (R), HD 2557 requires public buildings with a maximum occupancy of at least 300 people, to have bleeding control kits and trained personnel for bleeding emergencies; each building must have a trained bleeding control kit designee on staff; provides good Samaritan protections. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• H 5159 – Corporate Practice of Medicine ENACTED
  Introduced by Representative John Lawn (D), H 5159 provides oversight and regulation of the health care market to review private equity health care acquisitions to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable access to health care services. Governor Maura Healey (D) signed the bill into law March 8.
  
  
• S 46 – Artificial Intelligence
  Introduced by Senator Michael Moore (D), S 46 requires determinations of medical necessity to be made by a health care professional; artificial intelligence tools must be open to inspection for audits and base their determinations on an insured's medical history and individual clinical circumstances, rather than solely on group datasets. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Information Technology and Cyber Security Committee.
  
  
• S 770 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Senator John Keenan (D), S 770 mandates health insurers must cover services ordered if the service is covered under the insured's plan and adheres to the carrier's clinical review criteria; prohibits health insurers from denying payment for medically necessary services due to administrative or technical defects. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• S 796 – Prior Authorization
  Introduced by Senator Mark Montigny (D), S 796 requires health insurers to respond to prior authorization requests within 24 hours. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• S 809 – Biomarker
  Introduced by Senator Jacob Oliveria (D), S 809 requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing; prior authorization for biomarker testing must be processed within 72 hours, or 24 hours if a delay poses a significant health risk. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Financial Services Committee.
  
  
• S 1482 – Surgical Smoke
  Introduced by Senator Joanne Comerford (D), S 1482 requires hospitals and surgical facilities to use smoke evacuation systems. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• S 1534 – Corporate Practice of Medicine
  Introduced by Senator Paul Feeney (D), S 1534 mandates only clinicians with independent practice authority can own health care practices; restricts management service organizations from exerting control over clinical decisions, patient records, or employment based on clinical history. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• S 1619 – STOP THE BLEED®
  Introduced by Senator Michael Rush (D), S 1619 requires public buildings with a maximum occupancy of at least 300 people, to have bleeding control kits and trained personnel on staff at all times; the number of kits per building will be determined by a formula informed by research from the American College of Surgeons; provides good Samaritan protections. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Public Health Committee.
  
  
• S 1628 – Corporate Practice of Medicine
  Introduced by Senator Bruce Tarr (R), S 1628 mandates only clinicians with independent practice authority can own and control health care practices. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Public Health Committee.