HEALTH CARE
CommonWealth Beacon dives into the present and future of health and wellness in Massachusetts through its coverage of medical breakthroughs, regional disparities, insurance reshuffles, and the nitty-gritty of health policy.
Pricey campaign launched to assist with ‘ridiculous’ federal Medicaid requirements
Starting this week, Healey said, notices are being mailed to MassHealth members about how the federal changes could affect them and what actions they need to take to stay covered.
Signing new abortion law, Healey cites stories of ‘anguish and heartache’
Gov. Maura Healey on Monday signed legislation removing restrictions on abortions after 24 weeks of gestation, a change that supporters say will help more patients stay in-state to receive care.
With House vote, Beacon Hill inches closer to landmark primary care reforms
Negotiations on a final compromise could prove arduous, but the House and Senate agree on the fundamental idea of more than doubling the share of health care spending that goes toward primary care to ease the crisis that’s left many patients struggle to find appointments.
Social workers eye compact to erase licensing hurdles
Social workers with a multistate compact license would be able to practice in other jurisdictions that are part of the compact.
Health insurance woes reaching ‘inflection point,’ commissioner says
The escalating use of low-value care — medical services that are unnecessary for patient care — was identified as a contributor to health care spending growth. One in four commercially insured residents received at least one low-value service in 2024.
House votes 119-33 to pass abortion law changes
The bill scraps the four types of exemptions currently outlined in statute for life-threatening situations for the mother or fetus, instead giving deference to doctors’ professional judgment.
Small businesses still in line for double-digit health premium increases — with some relief
Newly approved health insurance premium rates in the so-called merged market mean hundreds of thousands of Bay Staters will face average increases of more than 10 percent in 2027.
House eyes passage of bill altering criteria for late-term abortions
The bill would eliminate the existing criteria that allows for abortions to be performed 24 weeks or later into a pregnancy. Instead, leaving it up to the professional judgment of the physician performing the abortion.
House counteroffer to primary care may focus on prescription drugs
Pressed about aspects of a potential health care bill, House Speaker Ron Mariano said, “I know the committee, health care policy, has done an awful lot of work in prescription drug stuff, so we’ll start probably with that, and see where that takes us.”
Healey intervenes as Brigham nurses, home care workers prepare to strike
Healey held a meeting Monday afternoon with leaders from Mass General Brigham and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, though no bargaining committee members attended.
Merrimack Health shutters Methuen maternity unit a month earlier than expected
The three-campus health system first announced its plans to shutter the obstetric unit and consolidate its maternity and neonatal services at Lawrence General Hospital, which is less than two miles away, on April 1. But on June 23, administrators informed Methuen nurses that they would cease admissions to the hospital’s maternity unit in six days.
As measles cases rise across the country, Mass. legislators face a decision on a key vaccine bill
As concern over the nationwide spread of measles grows, advocates for legislation intended to boost childhood vaccinations in Massachusetts have their fingers crossed that the bill, after being filed four times, will finally make it to passage this year.
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