Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2222 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1239 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2222
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	William F. MacGregor
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing a commission to study quality & accessibility to telehealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:William F. MacGregor10th Suffolk1/14/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1239 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2222
18	18	By Representative MacGregor of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2222) of
19	19	William F. MacGregor for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the
20	20	General Court) relative to the quality and accessibility of telehealth. Mental Health, Substance
21	21	Use and Recovery.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act establishing a commission to study quality & accessibility to telehealth.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting in chapter 19 the following section:-
31	31	2 Section 27. Commission on Telehealth.
32	32	3 SECTION 1. As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
33	33	4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
34	34	5 “Commission” the commission on telehealth established pursuant to section 2.
35	35	6 “Telehealth” telehealth services as defined in section 50 of chapter 112.
36	36	7 “Commissioner,” the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, as defined in
37	37	8section 1 of Chapter 19.
38	38	9 SECTION 2. A special commission is hereby established for the purposes of making an
39	39	10investigation relative to the quality and accessibility of telehealth for residents of the 2 of 3
40	40	11Commonwealth and to develop recommendations for fostering the appropriate expansion of
41	41	12telehealth services.
42	42	13 SECTION 3. The commission shall:
43	43	14 (i) assess, comment on, and make recommendations with respect to, the content, design,
44	44	15management and likely effectiveness of specific policies, programs and initiatives proposed or
45	45	16undertaken to expand access to telehealth services in the Commonwealth, including but not
46	46	17limited to the expansion of telehealth services and certifications from outside of the
47	47	18Commonwealth;
48	48	19 (ii) assess, comment on, and make recommendations with respect to, the content, design,
49	49	20management and likely effectiveness of specific policies, programs and initiatives proposed or
50	50	21undertaken to ensure the safety and quality of telehealth services offered by providers operating
51	51	22within the Commonwealth, including but not limited to the qualifications of doctors,
52	52	23psychiatrists, therapists, and other employees, as well as the ways in which telehealth is
53	53	24marketed and advertised to residents of the Commonwealth;
54	54	25 SECTION 4. The commission shall consist of 10 members: 2 members appointed by the
55	55	26governor who shall have expertise in mental health or telehealth services; 2 members of the
56	56	27senate, 1 of whom shall be the president of the senate or a designee who shall serve as co-chair,
57	57	28and appoint the 1 additional member of the senate; 2 members of the house, one of whom shall
58	58	29be the speaker or a designee who shall serve as co-chair, and appoint the one additional member
59	59	30of the house; and 4 members appointed by the commissioner, 2 of whom shall have expertise in
60	60	31mental health or telehealth services, and 2 of whom shall represent a non-profit organization
61	61	32specializing in mental health or telehealth services. 3 of 3
62	62	33 SECTION 5. The commission shall conduct public hearings to gather information and
63	63	34submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Court, together with drafts of
64	64	35legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, not later than December 31, 2026.