“Out of 45.9 million total claims in 2024, 20.4% were denied by health insurers in Massachusetts, the Health Policy Commission said in a report released Thursday. Denials due to ‘strictly clinical reasons’ like medical necessity represented ‘at most’ 1% of denied requests.”
Alison Kuznitz | State House News Service
Posted inHealth Care
Healey unveils $250 million health insurance relief plan
Federal enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of December, creating turmoil for residents whose subsidies had protected them from steep premium hikes.
Posted inHealth Care
Healey explores options to cover Mass. residents losing health insurance
Healey said Tuesday that the loss of subsidies will translate into “upwards of 350,000” Mass. residents losing their health insurance.
Posted inHealth
Healey puts Mass. on its own vaccine path
The state Department of Public Health on Thursday updated its vaccine administration policy, enabling pharmacists to administer vaccines and emergency medications. The maneuver promotes the availability and distribution of vaccines in Massachusetts beyond those approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Posted inState Government
Mass. could join states that ban concealed license plates
Motorists would be banned from installing tinted license plate covers on their cars that distort or block key information under a bill that secured initial approval in the House this week.
Posted inEconomy
Tax change lifts plans for “hyperscale” data center campus in Westfield
The increasingly digital world — in which people and businesses are constantly searching the Internet, turning to AI for help, or storing information in the cloud — has led to a growing need for data centers to support online activity.
Posted inHealth Care
Healey signs bill expanding reproductive, transgender care protections
SURROUNDED BY HEALTH CARE advocates and curious tourists peering into Nurses Hall, Gov. Maura Healey signed an expanded shield law giving patients and providers in Massachusetts a new layer of defense against out-of-state intrusion into reproductive and transgender care.
Posted inHealth Care
AG pushes back on federal abortion medication restrictions
Campbell implored federal regulators Thursday to eliminate medication abortion restrictions on prescribers and pharmacies.
Posted inState Government
Senators get ‘enough yeses’ to add $43.5 million to budget
The Senate Ways and Means Committee proposed an underlying budget that started at $61.32 billion, as Democrats forge ahead with their spending appetite despite modest state tax revenues and federal funding uncertainty.
Posted inState Government
Opponents knock Healey’s youth mental health plan
With three state-funded youth mental health programs at risk of closing, lawmakers and providers ramped up their opposition this week to Gov. Healey’s proposed budget cuts.
Posted inHealth Care
Push continues for brain injury treatment coverage
Sen. Paul Feeney and Rep. Kimberly Ferguson urged survivors Tuesday to share personal stories with lawmakers to help get their brain injury treatment legislation over the finish line in the new session.
Posted inState Government
DiZoglio not satisfied with Senate Democrats’ audit response
The Senate Subcommittee tasked with handling Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s quest to probe the Legislature agreed Monday to meet with her office but outlined a string of issues.
Posted inState Government
Beacon Hill mourns death of Rep. Gifford, Republican from Wareham
“Susan was also kind, and a person of integrity, traits that allowed her to bring an invaluable perspective to her work here in the Legislature,” said Spreaker Ron Mariano.
Posted inState Government
Mass. begins eminent domain taking of St. Elizabeth’s
“Taking the property for a fraction of the assessed value is theft and everyone in Massachusetts–every business owner and homeowner–should be concerned about this threat,” said an attorney for the landowner.,
Posted inHealth Care
Sales timeline forcing quick review of Steward transactions
With the sales of Steward Health Care’s Massachusetts hospitals scheduled to close in less than two weeks, the state Health Policy Commission is rushing to complete its analyses of the transactions.
Posted inHealth
House, Senate come to terms on maternal health
The conference committee accord, which lead House negotiator Rep. Marjorie Decker filed just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, is the first big piece of legislation to emerge from closed-door talks after lawmakers ended formal sessions this month with major loose ends.