S 901 – Massachusetts

Status: In Process
Year Introduced: 2025
Link: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S901

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework to advance health equity in Massachusetts by creating an Executive Office of Equity, implementing various health care reforms, and addressing systemic inequities across multiple state agencies and programs. The legislation creates a new Secretary of Equity position and establishes a broad mandate to reduce health disparities, with key provisions including: establishing a Health Equity Zone Trust Fund to invest in communities with significant health inequities; requiring health care professionals to complete health equity continuing education; expanding health coverage for immigrants; creating mechanisms to track and address health disparities; and establishing diverse representation requirements for state boards and commissions. The bill defines health equity as ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible, which requires addressing historical injustices, social determinants of health, and systemic barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Specific initiatives include creating data dashboards to track health outcomes, developing standardized credentials for lower-wage health care workers, and establishing payment models that incentivize integrated primary care services. The legislation aims to comprehensively tackle health inequities by providing both structural reforms and targeted interventions across multiple sectors of state government and healthcare delivery.


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