HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 82        FILED ON: 1/7/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2263

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jeffrey N. Roy

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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 creating an obesity task force.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 82        FILED ON: 1/7/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2263

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act creating an obesity task force.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a Task Force on the Impacts on Obesity. The task force shall be chaired by the president of the senate or their designee and the speaker of the house of representatives or their designee, and shall consist of the following members: the senate chair of the joint committee on health care finance, the house chair of the joint committee on health care finance, the senate chair of the joint committee on public health, the house chair of the joint committee on public health committee, the Secretary of health and human services or their designee, the commissioner of public health or their designee, the executive director of the group insurance commission or their designee, the executive director of the health policy commission or their designee, a representative of the Massachusetts health and hospitals association, a representative of the American cancer society cancer action network, a representative of the American heart and stroke association, a representative of the Massachusetts health council, a representative of the alliance of YMCA’s, a representative of the Massachusetts medical society, a representative of the Massachusetts nurses association, a representative of the Massachusetts health council, a representative of the Massachusetts public health association, a representative of associated industries of Massachusetts and a representative of the Massachusetts business roundtable.

The commission shall:

1. Examine the impact of obesity in the commonwealth including but not limited to the cost implications for employer and employee premiums and out of pocket expenses, lost productivity, impacts on wellness and health, co-morbidities and on the overall costs to the health care system.

2. Make recommendations for guidelines and protocols relative to:

a) The proper screening and assessment of obesity

b) Education, prevention and wellness programs

c) Proper approved FDA treatment, medications and therapies

d) Eliminating barriers to prevention and wellness programs, education and treatment programs and FDA approved medications

e) Understanding the society and behavioral impacts of addressing obesity in the workplace and other settings

f) Understanding the social, economic, racial and ethnic impacts on diabetes

3. Examine the impacts on the prevalence of co-morbidities such as cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases.