HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1239        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

William F. MacGregor

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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 establishing a commission to study quality & accessibility to telehealth.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1239        FILED ON: 1/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing a commission to study quality & accessibility to telehealth.

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

The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting in chapter 19 the following section:-

Section 27. Commission on Telehealth.

SECTION 1.  As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Commission” the commission on telehealth established pursuant to section 2.

“Telehealth” telehealth services as defined in section 50 of chapter 112.

“Commissioner,” the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, as defined in section 1 of Chapter 19.

SECTION 2. A special commission is hereby established for the purposes of making an investigation relative to the quality and accessibility of telehealth for residents of the Commonwealth and to develop recommendations for fostering the appropriate expansion of telehealth services.

SECTION 3. The commission shall:

(i) assess, comment on, and make recommendations with respect to, the content, design, management and likely effectiveness of specific policies, programs and initiatives proposed or undertaken to expand access to telehealth services in the Commonwealth, including but not limited to the expansion of telehealth services and certifications from outside of the Commonwealth;

(ii) assess, comment on, and make recommendations with respect to, the content, design, management and likely effectiveness of specific policies, programs and initiatives proposed or undertaken to ensure the safety and quality of telehealth services offered by providers operating within the Commonwealth, including but not limited to the qualifications of doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and other employees, as well as the ways in which telehealth is marketed and advertised to residents of the Commonwealth;

SECTION 4.  The commission shall consist of 10 members: 2 members appointed by the governor who shall have expertise in mental health or telehealth services; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the president of the senate or a designee who shall serve as co-chair, and appoint the 1 additional member of the senate; 2 members of the house, one of whom shall be the speaker or a designee who shall serve as co-chair, and appoint the one additional member of the house; and 4 members appointed by the commissioner, 2 of whom shall have expertise in mental health or telehealth services, and 2 of whom shall represent a non-profit organization specializing in mental health or telehealth services.

SECTION 5. The commission shall conduct public hearings to gather information and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Court, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out those recommendations, not later than December 31, 2026.