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SD 2322

An Act measuring the impact of Long COVID in the Commonwealth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Liz Miranda

Establishes a MA Long COVID patient navigation pilot to reduce care barriers, connect patients to clinical/social supports, and report results within 12 months.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 2322

Summary: An Act measuring the impact of Long COVID in the Commonwealth (Senate Docket No. 2322)

Overview

  • Title: An Act measuring the impact of Long COVID in the Commonwealth
  • Sponsor: Liz Miranda
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Status: House concurred; referred to Public Health in the 2025-2026 session
  • Purpose: To create an evidence-based, culturally-specific patient navigation pilot program for individuals diagnosed with Long COVID in Massachusetts, aligned with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) definition of Long COVID. The program aims to reduce barriers to care, connect patients with clinical and social supports, and integrate navigation within healthcare teams.

What the bill would do

  • Amend Chapter 111 of the General Laws by adding new Section 24P (subject to appropriation).
  • Establish a pilot program managed by the Department (presumably the Department of Public Health) to support Long COVID patients and their families through patient navigation services.
  • Align the definition and approach with NASEM’s Long COVID framework to ensure consistency with established national guidance.

Key provisions and requirements

  1. Program objectives (24P(a)-(b))

    • Develop and implement an evidence-based, culturally-specific patient navigation pilot for Long COVID.
    • Goals include reducing barriers to timely, knowledgeable medical treatment; providing referrals for clinical care and nonclinical support; facilitating access to medical information and resources for daily and emotional needs; and integrating navigation within healthcare teams for maximum effectiveness.

  2. Guidelines and training (24P(c))

    • Create standardized guidelines for Long COVID patient navigator care, including appropriate training to ensure necessary skills and knowledge.

  3. Pilot activities (24P(d))

    • Data collection and sharing.
    • Initial patient contact and comprehensive social/medical needs assessments.
    • Navigation on clinical needs: identifying subspecialty care, referrals, clinician connections, facilitating inter-provider communication, scheduling, and optimizing insurance and disability coverage.
    • Navigation on social/emotional needs: linking to support groups and connection to social services (transportation, language access, food/housing insecurity, unemployment assistance, and connections to community-based organizations).
    • Providing resources to support shared decision-making and awareness of available social/community services.
    • Establishing reimbursement mechanisms for navigator services and supervision.

  4. Evaluation and reporting (24P(e))

    • Within 12 months after implementation, the Department must report to the House and Senate clerks and the Joint Committees on Public Health and Health Care Financing.
    • The report should cover pilot activities and services, geographic locations, number of participants and their regions, and advisability of expanding the pilot.

Funding and implementation

  • The pilot and related activities are “subject to appropriation,” meaning funding must be allocated in the state budget or through another appropriation vehicle.
  • Timeframe for evaluation: a formal report is due within one year of pilot implementation; long-term expansion would be considered based on the report’s findings.

Who is affected

  • Long COVID patients and their families in the Commonwealth.
  • Healthcare providers and care teams who would coordinate with patient navigators.
  • Public health and health care financing stakeholders assessing program effectiveness and potential expansion.
  • Community-based organizations and social service providers connected to navigation services.

Practical implications

  • Could improve access to timely care and reduce barriers for Long COVID patients.
  • Introduces standardized navigation services, including financial and insurance optimization, which may affect payer interactions and care planning.
  • Requires data collection and reporting to evaluate feasibility and inform potential expansion.

Timeline snapshot

  • Pilot program development and implementation contingent on appropriation.
  • After implementation: mandatory reporting within one year to determine advisability of expansion.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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