Friday, April 18th Legislative & Public Health Updates
- hannanur3
- Apr 22
- 8 min read
Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative and public health updates.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
FY26 House Budget
On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee released its annual budget. I am grateful that, in a time of growing need as the federal government rescinds critical funding for Massachusetts, Speaker Mariano, Chair Aaron Michlewitz, and their staffs crafted a thoughtful and equitable budget. Among the major provisions of this $61.4 billion budget are:
$22.4 billion for MassHealth as it faces looming threats from cuts to Medicaid
$1.95 billion for free school meals for all students, free community college, and early education grants, all to be drawn from Fair Share funds
$687 million for MBTA operating costs, also to be drawn from Fair Share funds
$82.5 million for the Attorney General’s Office, which is $6.8 million more than the Governor’s budget allocated. Attorney General Andrea Campbell continues to defend Massachusetts residents against actions taken at the federal level, and I am proud to have her as a strong voice standing up to the Trump administration.
$18.5 million for Head Start, which had its Boston office shuttered and funding slashed last month
$55 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Assistance Food Program, which funds the four regional food banks in the Commonwealth
$5 million for a legal fund to be shared among nonprofits that assist immigrants who are non-violent offenders
I filed 24 amendments to the budget, and I look forward to sharing them with you next week.
Public Health Updates
MA Health Care Workers Pen Open Letter Urging Hospitals to Protect Immigrant Patients and Workers
On Tuesday, over 400 health care workers at Massachusetts hospitals and health centers sent an open letter to seven state health care executives, calling on the leaders to protect immigrant patients and employees. Citing a growing number of patients cancelling or not coming to appointments, the letter specifically calls on health care institutions to safeguard immigrants’ access to health care by enforcing strong patient privacy policies, communicating a commitment to providing care for all, supporting immigrant patients and workers, and building legal partnerships supporting patients and employees. The letter was sent just a few months after the Trump administration reversed guidance restricting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, and churches. In February, Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued guidance to Massachusetts health care providers, maintaining that institutions should continue to protect patient privacy and provide care to patients regardless of immigration status. A recent study published in JAMA earlier this month estimates that more than 1 million noncitizen immigrants work as doctors, nurses, nursing home aides, and in other essential health care roles in the United States; one-third of that population work without legal status.
Federal Government Ends Partnership with States on Designated State Health and Investment Programs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently informed states that it does not plan to renew or approve new federal matching funds for designated state health programs (DSHP) and designated state investment programs (DSIP), severing this state and federal partnership. DSHPs are health-related programs that support health initiatives that Medicaid does not cover. DSIPs are programs that complement state Medicaid programs by addressing social determinants of health, such as food and housing insecurity. States include DSHPs and DSIPs as part of their 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers, enabling them to receive federal Medicaid matching funds to administer these programs. Section 1115 demonstration waivers give states flexibility in implementing Medicaid programs so long as they further key federal Medicaid objectives. CMS stated that DSHPs and DSIPs are simply state-funded health programs that would not have qualified for federal Medicaid funding without “creative interpretations” of 1115 demonstration waivers. Federal matching funds for DSHP programs in Massachusetts are authorized through December 2027, the end of the current 1115 waiver period.
Attorney General Campbell Issues Comment Letter on Proposed ACA Rules
Last Friday, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued a comment letter to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general from across the U.S. The letter addresses a proposed CMS rule establishing new standards for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces and argues that the proposed rule fails to meet the ultimate goals of the ACA: covering as many people as possible, most affordably as possible. The proposed rule requires all state ACA exchanges to shorten open enrollment periods and remove special enrollment opportunities for low-income individuals. Additionally, the proposed rule would prevent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from purchasing health insurance through the state ACA exchanges and change annual premium adjustment methods. As a result, premiums are projected to increase by approximately 4.5%, and Massachusetts will likely see an increase in state subsidy costs by almost $10 million in 2026 if the proposed rule takes effect. Moreover, it is estimated that the rule would cause between 750,000 and two million Americans to lose health insurance in 2026.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA Will No Longer Cover GLP-1s Beginning in 2026
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced Thursday that it will stop covering GLP-1s starting next January as a result of rapidly rising costs. Under the new policy, BCBSMA will continue to cover GLP-1s, a class of medications that primarily assist in blood sugar level management in people with Type 2 diabetes, in its standard health benefits when they are prescribed for diabetes. However, employers with 100 or more employees will have the option to pay an extra charge in their health plans for continuing coverage for weight loss purposes. BCBSMA serves 3 million members, approximately 50,000 of whom were taking GLP-1s as of January 1 of this year; 80% of those members were using the drugs for weight loss. Both BCBSMA and Point32Health, the second largest insurer in Massachusetts, recorded operating losses of $400 million and $382 million, respectively, in 2024 due largely to the spike in demand for GLP-1s. The cost for five of the GLP-1 drugs, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Sexenda, accounted for almost 20% of all of BCBSMA’s drug spending last year. Under the new BCBSMA policy, members whose employers decline to cover GLP-1s will have to pay out of pocket; the average monthly price of these drugs is approximately $1,200 without insurance.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Tuesday, I spoke about An Act to build restorative family and community connections (H.2591) at the kickoff for the Lobby Day for Human Rights & Freedom. I have worked on and filed legislation to reform prison and jail visitation alongside Prisoners’ Legal Services for three sessions. They are invaluable partners in ensuring incarcerated people are not only included in advocacy but also centered. Among the significant provisions of this bill are:
Requiring the establishment of policy to maximize visitation and forbidding policies that would prohibit or unreasonably limit visitation;
Instituting two visiting periods daily and 8 hours on weekends;
Banning limits on the number of people who can visit an individual incarcerated person and allowing individuals to visit more than one person at a facility;
Forbidding exclusion for visitation based on history of conviction, incarceration, or volunteer status in facilities.
As the new legislative session is underway, I was excited to collaborate once again with the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) to organize a Public Health Overview Briefing for members of the Joint Committee on Public Health on Wednesday. I am glad that my House colleagues were able to join alongside my Senate co-Chair and Senator John Keenan. This briefing featured distinguished experts from BUSPH, who provided insightful presentations on key public health topics and recent updates at both the state and national levels. They shared their expertise and research on critical issues in their field, especially in light of the challenges posed by the current federal administration.
The discussions offered invaluable insights that will guide our approach to promoting public health and ensure we are responsive to the challenges we face and are equipped to effectively meet the health needs of our communities as we prepare to review nearly 400 bills assigned to our Committee.
A heartfelt thank you to the BUSPH team, especially Dean Michael Stein, Dr. Craig Andrade, and Jim Curley, for their unwavering commitment to advancing evidence-based science and for their partnership in promoting and protecting public health. Their dedication to research, education, and advocacy lays a strong foundation for a healthier future for all.
On Thursday, I spoke at the opening of the Lift Our Kids Gallery Exhibit, which is located on the 4th Floor Exhibit Area of the State House and will be open until April 25. The visual display conveys the importance of cash assistance through personal narratives of parents who have received cash assistance and the steps the Legislature has taken to increase Temporary Aid for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC). Since 2017, I have been filing An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty alongside Senator DiDomenico. This legislation would raise TAFDC and EAEDC cash assistance grants to 50% of the federal poverty line, then index them to inflation to ensure families never fall into deep poverty.
As someone who grew up in poverty, I understand that poverty is not an identity but a temporary status that is the result of intentional policy and budget decisions. I share my lived experience as it helps inform my policy work. Sharing our stories allows others to get a deeper understanding of the hardships, how expensive living in poverty is, and the depths to which poverty impacts one’s life.
The federal government continues to target vulnerable populations by proposing significant cuts to anti-poverty programming. It will be essential to continue to advocate and uplift the voices of those who live in poverty, as this exhibition does, to help legislators understand that cash assistance should be increased further in the Commonwealth.
I am grateful that the House Ways and Means FY26 budget restored the 10% increase in TAFDC and EAEDC that I secured in the FY25 budget which went into effect this month after the Governor did not annualize the increase in her budget. I have filed an amendment to increase cash grants by another 10% in the FY26 budget.
Thank you to the Lift Our Kids Coalition for creating an incredible visual display.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
Alzheimer's Association Helpline
The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit that provides support, research, and care for Alzheimer’s and dementia with a 24/7 for caregivers and patients. More information is available at alz.org, or by calling 800-272-3900.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie
