Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-425

EHS 425

Digital Health Navigators

Messrs. Gómez, Tarr, Keenan, Eldridge and Oliveira moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting at the end thereof the following section:

SECTION XX. There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations on ways to address the inequity of health outcomes and digital access through the recruitment and implementation of digital health navigators. 

The commission shall consist of: the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the joint committee on public health who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the senate president; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the secretary of technology services and security or a designee; the chief information technology accessibility officer or a designee; the executive director of Mass Digital or a designee; 1 member who shall be a representative of the interoperable communications bureau within the executive office of technology services and security; 1 member who shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute;1 member who shall be a representative of the Department of Public Health; 1 member who shall be a representative of the Executive Office of Aging and Independence; 3 members appointed by the governor who shall be digital health navigators from diverse geographic backgrounds in Massachusetts; and 9 additional representatives, including, but not limited to, representatives from organizations advocating for digital equity in the western region of the commonwealth, behavioral health organizations, human service providers, community health workers, municipalities, hospitals and health systems, physician practices, community health centers, workforce boards, and patients who have utilized digital health navigation services. 

The commission shall consider: 

(i) defining how statewide residents’ needs can be met by digital health navigation services within the broader goal of digital equity;

(ii) defining the scope, social determinants of health and quality of life outcomes, and methods for funding digital health navigators including private and public contracting and state grantmaking;

(iii) qualifications and standards of digital health navigator services, including a process for a statewide credentialing program for digital health navigators; 

(iv) conduct data collection of current regional initiatives across the state to understand opportunities, implementation design, and statewide efficiencies;

(v) any other considerations determined to be relevant by the commission. The commission shall file a report and recommendations, including any legislation necessary to implement its recommendations, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than June 30, 2026.