HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4861 FILED ON: 2/18/2022
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4558
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Joan B. Lovely
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to pregnancy loss awareness.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Jamie Zahlaway Belsito | 4th Essex | 2/18/2022 |
Joan B. Lovely | Second Essex | 2/18/2022 |
Lindsay N. Sabadosa | 1st Hampshire | 4/6/2022 |
Rebecca L. Rausch | Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex | 4/6/2022 |
Natalie M. Higgins | 4th Worcester | 4/8/2022 |
Sally P. Kerans | 13th Essex | 4/8/2022 |
Paul R. Feeney | Bristol and Norfolk | 4/12/2022 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4861 FILED ON: 2/18/2022
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4558
By Representative Belsito of Topsfield and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Joan B. Lovely for legislation to establish a pregnancy loss awareness program within Department of Public Health. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act relative to pregnancy loss awareness.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 244. (a) The commissioner shall develop and disseminate to the public information regarding pregnancy loss, including information on: (i) awareness of pregnancy loss and the incidence and prevalence of pregnancy loss among pregnant people; and (ii) the accessibility of the range of evidence-based treatment options, as medically appropriate, for pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, including but not limited to comprehensive mental health supports, necessary procedures and medications and culturally responsive supports such as pregnancy-loss doula care.
The commissioner may disseminate information to the public directly or through arrangements with agencies carrying out intra-agency initiatives, nonprofit organizations, consumer groups, community organizations, institutions of higher education or state or local public-private partnerships.
(b) The commissioner shall expand and coordinate programs for conducting and supporting evidence-based research with respect to causes of and current and novel treatment options and procedures for pregnancy loss.
(c) The commissioner shall, in consultation with and in accordance with guidelines from relevant medical societies, develop and disseminate to perinatal health care workers, including midwives, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and non-clinical perinatal health care workers, information on pregnancy loss for the purpose of ensuring that such perinatal health care workers remain informed about current information regarding pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage, and prioritizing both the physical and mental health care of the patient. For purposes of this subsection, the term “perinatal health care worker” shall include any doula, community health worker, peer supporter, breastfeeding and lactation educator or counselor, nutritionist or dietitian, childbirth educator, social worker, home visitor, language interpreter or navigator.
(d) The commissioner shall, in a manner that protects personal privacy and complies with federal law, collect and assess data regarding pregnancy loss, including information disaggregated by race, ethnicity, health insurance status, disability, income level and geography on the prevalence of, the incidence of and knowledge about pregnancy loss.