Massachusetts H5019: An Act relative to access to health care

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 35. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: “Habilitative services”, health care services that help a person keep, learn or improve skills and functioning for daily living. “Habilitative stuttering speech therapy treatment”, speech therapy that helps an individual to keep, learn or improve skills and functioning for daily living. “Rehabilitative services”, health care services that help a person restore or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired. “Rehabilitative stuttering speech therapy treatment”, speech therapy that helps an individual restore or improve skills and functioning of daily life that have been lost or impaired. “Stuttering speech therapy”, therapeutic care provided to an individual for the treatment of stuttering administered by a licensed speech language pathologist. “Telehealth”, the application of telecommunication technology to deliver speech therapy services at a distance for assessment, intervention or consultation. “Utilization review”, a set of formal techniques designed to monitor the use of or evaluate the medical necessity, appropriateness, efficacy or efficiency of health care services, procedures or settings, including: prior authorization, second opinion, certification, concurrent review, case management, discharge planning or retrospective review, in order to make a determination …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I) · primary sponsor
• Patrick Kearney (D, 4th Plymouth)
• Jeffrey Turco (D, 19th Suffolk)
• Sean Garballey (D, 23rd Middlesex)

Latest actions

1. July 9, 2026: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
2. February 5, 2026: Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
3. February 5, 2026: New draft of H1218
4. February 5, 2026: Reported from the committee on Financial Services

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (January 12, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H5019?

H5019 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to access to health care.

What is the status of H5019?

In committee as of July 9, 2026. Latest action: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (July 9, 2026).

Who sponsored H5019?

Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H5019?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5019