Massachusetts Law About Health Care
See Also:
- Abortion
- Children's Health Care
- Contraception
- Health Care Proxies
- Health Insurance NOTE: Find information on Federal Health Care Law Here!
- Lead Paint
- Medicaid
- Medical Qualifications to Drive
- Medical Record Privacy
- Mental Health Care
- Nurse Practitioners
- Prescription Medication
- Stem Cell Research
- Vaccination and Immunization
Massachusetts Laws
- MGL c.6A, s.16K-16L Health Care Quality and Cost Council
- MGL c.40J, s.6D E-Health Institute
- MGL c.94C, s.27-27A Over-the-Counter Needle Sales
- MGL c.111 Public Health
- MGL c.111, s.70E Patients' and Residents' Rights
- MGL c.111C Emergency Medical Services
- MGL c.111D Clinical Laboratories
- MGL c.112, s.2-12CC Physicians and Surgeons
- St. 2008, c.305, Limitation on Gifts by Pharmaceutical Companies to Physicians. Bans some types of gifts and requires reporting of all gifts over $50. Amended July 8, 2012. See Foley Hoag's Massachusetts DPH Finalizes Gift Ban Regulations.
- St. 2012, c.224 An Act Improving the Quality of Health Care and Reducing Costs through Increased Transparency, Effeciency and Innovation. Includes both Health Care Cost Reduction, and Disclosure, Apology and Offer, which requires health care providers to admit mistakes and includes a 182-day cooling off period. Signed Aug. 6, 2012. Various sections effective 2013-2017. See sections 281A-308 for specific effective dates.
- St.2012, c.369: Allows use of marijuana for medical purposes. Effective January 1, 2013.
Massachusetts Regulations
- 105 CMR Department of Public Health
- 105 CMR 970 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Conduct
Federal Laws
Antihistamine Sales Restricted: Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, P.L. 109-177, sec. 701-756. Details on the requirements are available at General Information Regarding The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 [Title VII of Public Law 109-177].
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PL 111-148. The federal Health Care law is over 900 pages long. Changes include increased protection for those with pre-existing conditions, heightened penalties for certain employers who don't provide insurance, additional availability of insurance for children up to age 26, closure of the medicare "donut hole" for prescription drug coverage and more.
Other Web Resources
Comfort Care/Do Not Resuscitate Order Verification Program, Mass. Dept. of Public Health. Explains documentation required so that EMTs will honor a DNR, and protocols for EMTs.
Complaint Resolution, Mass. Dept. of Health and Human Services. How to file a complaint about a health care professional. Includes forms.
Long-term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It, Nolo, 2010. Information on different long-term care option, asset protection, long-term care insurance and more. Requires Library Card for access.
Massachusetts Physician Profiles, Board of Registration in Medicine. Information about the "education, training and experience of all licensed physicians" in Massachusetts.
New Mass. Law Changes Malpractice Procedures, Worcester Telegram, August 14, 2012. "Massachusetts doctors who make medical errors while treating patients are now required to disclose their mistakes and are allowed to apologize without facing lawsuits under a new health care law that overhauls the state's approach to medical malpractice cases."
Nursing Home Consumer Information Page, Mass. Division of Health Care Quality. Includes nursing home reports, regulations, information on choosing a nursing home, and more.
Patient and Family Advisory Councils, Mass. Dept. of Public Health Circular Letter: DHCQ 09-07-514. Under 105 CMR 130.1800 and 1801, "each hospital [must] establish a PFAC by October 1, 2010; and each hospital must prepare a report outlining its plan to establish a PFAC no later than September 30, 2009."
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Code of Conduct, Mass. Health and Human Services. Extensive information about the regulations.
Print Sources
Health Care Law Sourcebook, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf.