Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2452 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. 3919 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2452
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Vanna Howard
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 improving maternal and child health related to Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 5
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3919 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2452
18	18	By Representative Howard of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2452) of
19	19	Vanna Howard for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General
20	20	Court) relative to the care, support, and resources for individuals experiencing Hyperemesis
21	21	Gravidarum. Public Health.
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 improving maternal and child health related to Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
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 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission pursuant to section 2A
31	31	2of chapter 4 of the General Laws to examine and make recommendations regarding the
32	32	3improvement of care, support, and resources for individuals experiencing Hyperemesis
33	33	4Gravidarum (HG).
34	34	5 (b) The special legislative commission shall consist of the following: the house and
35	35	6senate chairs of the joint committee on public health, who shall serve as co-chairs; the house and
36	36	7senate chairs of the joint committee on healthcare finance; the house and senate chairs of the
37	37	8joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion; the chair of the Massachusetts Black
38	38	9and Latino Legislative Caucus, or a designee; 1 member of the house appointed by the minority
39	39	10leader; 1 member of the senate appointed by the minority leader; the secretary of health and
40	40	11human services, or a designee; the commissioner of public health, or a designee; the executive
41	41	12director of the Health Policy Commission, or a designee; the executive director of the 2 of 5
42	42	13Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women; 37 members appointed by the co-chairs of
43	43	14the commission, including: the executive director of the HER Foundation, or a designee; a
44	44	15representative of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; a
45	45	16representative of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition; a representative of
46	46	17the Preeclampsia Foundation; a representative of Postpartum Support International; a
47	47	18representative of the March of Dimes; 1 member of the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality and
48	48	19Morbidity Review Committee; 1 member of the Massachusetts Medical Society who specializes
49	49	20in childbirth or maternal health, including, but not limited to, obstetrics and gynecology,
50	50	21maternal-fetal medicine, or family medicine; 1 member of the Massachusetts chapter of the
51	51	22American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who specializes in childbirth or maternal
52	52	23health, including, but not limited to, obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, or
53	53	24family medicine; 1 member of the Massachusetts affiliate of the American College of Nurse-
54	54	25Midwives; 1 member of the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts;
55	55	261 member of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression, established pursuant to
56	56	27chapter 313 of the acts of 2010; the executive director of the Massachusetts association of health
57	57	28plans; 3 physicians with experience treating hyperemesis gravidarum, including at least 1 who
58	58	29practices in a birthing center working with women who experience high or disparate rates of
59	59	30maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity; 2 nurses with experience treating hyperemesis
60	60	31gravidarum; 2 physicians assistants with experience treating hyperemesis gravidarum; 2 certified
61	61	32professional midwives with experience treating hyperemesis gravidarum; 2 doulas with
62	62	33experience with patients with hyperemesis gravidarum; 3 people who have experienced
63	63	34hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy; 1 person who identifies as a father with experience
64	64	35supporting a pregnant partner with hyperemesis gravidarum; 3 representatives of organizations 3 of 5
65	65	36that provide care, education, advocacy, research or other support for pregnant women; 3
66	66	37executive directors or directors of obstetrics and gynecological departments of teaching
67	67	38hospitals, or their designees; 3 professors or administrators of Massachusetts medical schools
68	68	39specializing in maternal healthcare; and 2 members appointed by the governor, including 1
69	69	40person with experience providing care to patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 1 person
70	70	41who has experienced hyperemesis gravidarum.
71	71	42 (i) All appointments to the commission shall prioritize individuals from underserved
72	72	43communities. Members of the special commission shall have evidence-based or lay knowledge,
73	73	44expertise, or experience related to hyperemesis gravidarum and shall reflect broad racial and
74	74	45geographic diversity within the commonwealth. The majority of lay members of the commission
75	75	46shall represent the diversity of the communities most impacted by inequities in maternal health
76	76	47outcomes in the commonwealth and shall reflect the constituency the commission is intended to
77	77	48serve.
78	78	49 (ii) All appointments shall be made no later than 60 days after the effective date of this
79	79	50act.
80	80	51 (iii) The commission shall convene its first meeting not more than 90 days from the
81	81	52effective date of this act and meet not less than quarterly until it has completed its investigation
82	82	53and final report.
83	83	54 (iv) The commission may establish committees, hold public listening sessions, collect
84	84	55written testimony and invite guest speakers and ex officio members in furtherance of its purpose
85	85	56at the discretion of the chairs or a majority vote of its members.
86	86	57 (c) The special legislative commission’s investigation and report shall: 4 of 5
87	87	58 (i) Examine existing public and private insurance coverage for all medications and
88	88	59nutritional therapies used to treat hyperemesis gravidarum and related symptoms; identify
89	89	60barriers to access; and develop legislative and regulatory recommendations to ensure that
90	90	61patients can affordably obtain hyperemesis gravidarum-related medications and nutritional
91	91	62supplements.
92	92	63 (ii) Evaluate existing continuing education and training for mental health professionals
93	93	64and OB/GYN practitioners, including nurses, doctors, doulas, and midwives on hyperemesis
94	94	65gravidarum diagnosis and management, and recommend strategies for the Legislature,
95	95	66Department of Public Health, and private institutions to expand access to these educational
96	96	67opportunities.
97	97	68 (iii) Review existing paid leave coverage for individuals with debilitating hyperemesis
98	98	69gravidarum, including but not limited to Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave,
99	99	70Workers' Compensation, Disability Insurance, sick leave, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness
100	100	71Act; and recommend legislative policies to ensure that individuals with hyperemesis gravidarum
101	101	72can take adequate time off for their care during pregnancy without sacrificing postpartum paid
102	102	73leave.
103	103	74 (iv) Develop recommendations for the Legislature, Department of Public Health, and
104	104	75relevant state agencies to launch public awareness campaigns educating pregnant individuals and
105	105	76healthcare providers about hyperemesis gravidarum and available resources.
106	106	77 (v) Review existing hyperemesis gravidarum -related research and explore opportunities
107	107	78for the Commonwealth to encourage universities, teaching hospitals, and research institutions to 5 of 5
108	108	79better understand hyperemesis gravidarum causes and treatment, as well as the economic and
109	109	80social costs associated with the illness on mothers, children, and families.
110	110	81 (vi) Evaluate existing state programs and infrastructure for opportunities to add
111	111	82supportive services for hyperemesis gravidarum patients.
112	112	83 (d) The commission shall submit its report, including recommendations for legislation, to
113	113	84the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate no later than September 1, 2026.