Requires school districts to establish a language assistance program for limited English proficient parents of students

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Gounardes and 1 co-sponsor

Prohibits co-payments and deductibles for prescribed drugs and devices essential to treating or maintaining a chronic condition in Massachusetts.

PRINT NUMBER 894A

Summary — S.894 / Print No. 894A (2025)

Note up front: the materials provided contain multiple, inconsistent texts and metadata (a Massachusetts Senate bill on coverage for chronic illness; an unrelated New Jersey school-bus safety draft; a separate title about language assistance; and a sponsors list that appears to be for a federal bill). This summary focuses on the Massachusetts bill text that is clearly included: "An Act relative to coverage for chronic illness."

Key provisions

Amends Chapter 176J of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting a new Section 14A.

Prohibits carriers from imposing any co‑payment or deductible for:

Prescriptions, and
Devices, that are prescribed by a physician and are necessary for treatment or maintenance of a chronic disease, illness, or condition.

Directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to adopt regulations that further define what constitutes a “chronic disease, illness or condition” for purposes of the new section.

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: insured individuals in Massachusetts who have chronic diseases, illnesses, or conditions and who require ongoing prescription medications or medical devices.

Obligated parties: health insurance carriers operating in Massachusetts that are regulated under Chapter 176J (typically commercial health insurers and similar carriers).

Regulators: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (to define chronic conditions) and the Division of Insurance (for enforcement/oversight implications).

Implementation, timeline, and procedure

Bill filing/processing (as recorded):

Filed in Senate: January 17, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 2357).
Printed as 894A: May 22, 2025.
Hearing scheduled: June 18, 2025 (Gardner Auditorium).

DPH rulemaking will be required to operationalize the statutory phrase “chronic disease, illness or condition.”

Carriers would need to modify plan designs, benefit summaries, and claims-processing to eliminate co-payments and deductibles for covered chronic-condition prescriptions and devices once the law takes effect.

Potential impacts and considerations

Patient financial relief: could reduce out‑of‑pocket costs and improve adherence for people with chronic conditions who need ongoing drugs or devices.

Cost and premiums: carriers may experience increased costs; depending on market responses, these costs could be reflected in premiums, plan design adjustments elsewhere, or offset by other policy mechanisms.

Regulatory clarity needed: impact hinges on DPH’s definition of “chronic” and whether the law applies to all regulated carriers and benefit types (e.g., pharmacy vs. medical benefit distinctions).

Administrative changes: carriers and providers will need guidance and lead time to implement claims and eligibility changes.

Notes on inconsistent materials

The packet also included an unrelated New Jersey draft requiring cameras, GPS, and two‑way communications on buses transporting students with special needs, and a separate title about school-district language assistance programs. A list of federal senators as cosponsors appears unrelated to the Massachusetts state bill. Users should verify which specific jurisdiction and bill they intend to track.

Bill