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SD 367

An Act to strengthen the management of the health care connector

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bruce Tarr

Creates a 13-member Health Connector Board with conflict protections, mandates public transparency, and requires annual ROI reviews to assess performance.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 367

Summary of Senate Docket No. 367 — An Act to strengthen the management of the health care connector

Status: House concurred
Introduced: February 27, 2025
Classification: Proposed bill (Massachusetts)
Legislative actions: Referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing (2/27/2025); House concurred (2/27/2025)

Purpose and intent

This bill seeks to overhaul and strengthen the governance, transparency, and oversight of the Commonwealth’s health care connector (MassHealth/Connector functionality). The centerpiece is redesigning the board that governs the connector, expanding oversight, and establishing mandatory transparency and accountability measures, including an annual return-on-investment evaluation.

Key provisions

1) Governance: new Health Connector Board (Chapter 176Q, §2(b))

  • Replace subsection (b) with a 13-member board to govern the connector.
  • Board composition:
    • Ex officio/serving roles:
    • Secretary of Administration and Finance (chairperson, or designee)
    • Director of Medicaid (or designee)
    • Commissioner of Insurance (or designee)
    • Executive Director of the Group Insurance Commission
    • Appointed by the Governor (6 members):
    • 1 member in good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries
    • 1 health economist
    • 1 representative of small businesses
    • 2 representatives from organizations representing employers
    • 1 member of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters
    • Appointed by the Attorney General (3 members):
    • 1 employee health benefits plan specialist
    • 1 representative of a health consumer organization
    • 1 representative of organized labor
  • Restrictions: No appointee may be an employee of any licensed carrier authorized to do business in Massachusetts.
  • Terms: Each appointment for 3 years; vacancy fills for the unexpired term.
  • Governance: Board must annually elect a vice-chairperson.

2) Transparency: new 176Q:19 Health Connector Transparency

  • Subject to open meeting law (G.L. c. 30A, §§18-25) and public records law (G.L. c. 66).
  • Public records include: board votes, meeting minutes, financial records, contracts, and staff salaries.
  • Information to be publicly accessible on the connector’s website.

3) Return on Investment: new 176Q:20

  • Annual ROI review by the Secretary of Administration and Finance.
  • The review, with any recommendations, must be filed with:
    • Clerks of the House and Senate
    • House and Senate Committee on Ways and Means
    • Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
  • Deadline: By December 31 of each year.

Who/what is affected

  • The Health Connector (and its governance and operations)
  • State agencies involved in health care financing and administration (Secretary of Administration and Finance, Director of Medicaid, Commissioner of Insurance, Group Insurance Commission)
  • Public access to connector operations (transparency requirements)
  • Stakeholders in the health care system (employers, consumer organizations, labor representatives, actuaries, health economists)

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill, introduced in February 2025, is a proposed measure that would amend Chapter 176Q of the General Laws.
  • It establishes new governance and accountability mechanisms that operate going forward, with annual ROI reporting due by December 31 each year.
  • Current status shows House concurrence, indicating movement toward final legislative action in the current session.

Impact at a glance

  • Enhances governance with a clearly defined 13-member board and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
  • Increases transparency through open meeting/public records requirements and online public access.
  • Introduces annual ROI assessments to evaluate the health care connector’s financial performance and program impact.
  • Likely to affect how the connector procures services, negotiates contracts, and reports to the Legislature and the public.

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

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