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H 4608

An Act to improve access to health care for people with Long COVID

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Leigh Davis and 8 co-sponsors

Establishes a funded Long COVID patient navigation pilot to improve access to timely medical care and social supports, aligned with NASEM definitions.

Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · H 4608

Summary of H.4608: An Act to improve access to health care for people with Long COVID (Massachusetts)

Status: Reported favorably by the Public Health Committee and referred to the Health Care Financing Committee. Introduced October 16, 2025. Subject to appropriation.

Purpose and intent

  • Create an evidence-based, culturally-specific patient navigation pilot program to improve access to timely, knowledgeable medical care for people diagnosed with Long COVID.
  • Align the program with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Long COVID definition.
  • Focus on reducing barriers, supporting both clinical and nonclinical needs, and advancing health equity in Long COVID care across the Commonwealth.

Key provisions and requirements

Establishment and scope

  • Adds Section 24P to Chapter 111 (Long COVID patient navigation pilot program), to be developed and implemented by the department (subject to appropriation).
  • Aims to:
    • Reduce barriers to timely, appropriate medical treatment.
    • Provide referrals for clinical care and nonclinical support to patients and their families.
    • Facilitate access to medical information and resources to help meet daily needs and emotional support.
    • Integrate navigation services within healthcare teams for maximum efficacy.
    • Study diseases associated with Long COVID (e.g., myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disease, POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes, hyperlipidemia) and improve health equity.

Standards and operations

  • Develop guidelines to standardize Long COVID patient navigator care, including training to ensure necessary skills and knowledge.
  • Pilot activities to include:
    • Data collection and sharing.
    • Initial contact with patients and social/medical needs assessments.
    • Navigation for clinical needs: identifying subspecialty care, referrals, connections to clinicians, facilitating communication among providers and the patient’s care team, scheduling appointments, and optimizing insurance and disability coverage.
    • Navigation for social/emotional needs: connecting patients with lay support groups and social services (transportation, language/interpretation, food insecurity, housing insecurity, unemployment assistance, and connections to community-based organizations).
    • Resources to support shared decision-making and awareness of available social/community services.
    • Establishment of reimbursement mechanisms for navigator services and supervision.

Advisory board and participation

  • Department may establish a consumer advisory board primarily composed of Long COVID patients and engaged healthcare providers to help shape the pilot.
  • Possible guidelines and processes to issue stipend payments to advisory board participants.

Reporting and evaluation

  • Within one year of implementing the pilot, the department must report to the clerks of the House and Senate and to the Joint Committee on Public Health and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
  • Report contents to include:
    • Activities of the pilot, services provided, and geographic distribution of services.
    • Number of patients served and their regions.
    • Advisory on the advisability of expanding the pilot.

Who is affected

  • Long COVID patients and their families in the Commonwealth.
  • Healthcare providers and care teams involved in Long COVID care.
  • Navigation professionals and potential advisory board members.
  • Insurers and disability services through coordination of insurance and disability coverage.
  • Community organizations and social service providers.

Timing and fiscal notes

  • Pilot program to be funded “subject to appropriation.”
  • Agreement and reporting requirements activate after implementation, with a mandatory one-year post-implementation report.

Notable alignment and references

  • Explicit alignment with NASEM Long COVID definitions.
  • Comprehensive scope includes both medical and social determinants of health components to support patients and improve care coordination.

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

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