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April 18, 2026 Clouds | 56°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.465 194th (Current)

An Act supporting individuals suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their families

By Mr. DiDomenico, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 465) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to support individuals suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their families. Elder Affairs.

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Bill Information

Presenter:
Sal N. DiDomenico
S.465 aims to enhance access to healthcare services and emphasize patient-centeredness in Massachusetts. It mandates changes to home care regulations to ensure that individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can access home care services regardless of their age, providing they satisfy other eligibility criteria.This legislation also instructs the Division of Medical Assistance to develop standards that prioritize patient outcomes in healthcare treatments and services. These standards require the evaluation of research addressing patient-prioritized outcomes, including consideration of subgroup differences and scientific rigor, while prohibiting the reliance on cost-effectiveness measures like dollars-per-quality adjusted life year. The bill also requires the Health Policy Commission to implement similar standards focused on patient-centeredness when assessing the value of healthcare services and treatments. Both the Division of Medical Assistance and the Health Policy Commission are barred from using discriminatory evaluation measures and must establish systems for appeals and physician overrides. These systems aim to ensure patient access to necessary healthcare services and protect physicians from facing discrimination if they choose to exercise these overrides in favor of patient care.
* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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