Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative and public health updates. There will be no newsletter next week. I wish you and your loved ones a holiday season of peace, joy, and togetherness.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Legislature Passes Substance Use Disorder Conference Committee Report
On Thursday, the House and Senate both voted to pass comprehensive substance use disorder treatment legislation. The Conference Committee report An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure (H.5143) expands access to opioid reversal drugs, modifies mandated reporting requirements for substance-exposed newborns whose parents are taking medication for addiction treatment or have a substance use disorder, and establishes liability protections for organizations providing drug checking services. The bill now goes to Governor Healey’s desk for her signature.
Language from two bills I filed this session was included in this legislation:
An Act relative to reimbursement for recovery peer specialists mandates all health plans cover recovery coach services without cost-sharing or prior authorization at no less than MassHealth rates, establishes recovery coach licensing and oversight within the Department of Public Health, and codifies the practice of recovery coaching.
An amendment I filed to the House version of the bill based on An Act relative to removing barriers to non-opioid pain management requires providers to ensure adequate coverage and access to pain management services without prior authorization, including non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment like acupuncture or yoga.
It is so important that the Legislature has affirmed its commitment to those who are on their journey to recovery and embraced harm reduction measures that will save lives throughout the Commonwealth. I will continue to file a bill legalizing overdose prevention centers next session and will work to educate my colleagues and build support for another life-saving harm-reduction option.
Public Health Updates
MGB Initiative Provides Healthcare to High-Risk Birthing Persons via Mobile Car Vans
Last November, Mass General Brigham announced the Driving Equity and Maternal Health (DrEaMH) initiative to address maternal health disparities being linked in part to patients not having convenient, accessible care options for receiving preventable care. The initiative is made possible by a $1.66 million grant from the CVS Health Foundation. The foundation awards grants to free and charitable clinics, school-based health centers, and community health centers across the country to increase access to care and improve health outcomes for all people. Launched in May 2024, the program has already treated roughly 40 moms in its medically-equipped camper van. The mobile postnatal care unit is operating in an area with proven maternal health disparities; Black women have the highest rate of severe maternal morbidity in the Commonwealth. The DrEaMH initiative isn’t the only program of its kind – there have been a growing number of similar programs across the country in recent years. Last year, Boston Medical Center launched Curbside Care with the Celtics, a mobile healthcare unit providing comprehensive mother-infant dyadic care during the first six weeks of a child’s life.
Research Shows Vitamin D and Calcium Supplements Aren’t Beneficial for Fall and Fracture Prevention in Older Adults
The US Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of national experts in disease prevention and evidence-based medicine, conducted a systematic review of research on supplements. According to a new draft recommendation from the task force, vitamin D and calcium supplements offer "no net benefit" in reducing the risk of falls or preventing bone fractures in older adults, including postmenopausal women and men aged 60 years or older, who live in their own homes in the community and not nursing homes, long-term care facilities or hospitals. The task force also notes that supplementation with vitamin D, with or without calcium, can increase the incidence of kidney stones, although the risk is considered small. Patients who have been advised by their healthcare providers to implement supplements as part of their clinical regimen are recommended to continue with that guidance.
Prevalence of Obesity Dips in the U.S. for the first time in a Decade
A new study recently found that rates of obesity across the United States dropped slightly for the first time in over a decade, from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023. Obesity rates vary by geographic region and demographics, with the most notable decline being seen in southern parts of the country, particularly among adults between the ages of 66 and 75. Researchers noted that the decrease in obesity prevalence in the South aligned with the region’s uptake of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic. However, more research must be done to draw an association between these co-occurring events. These data also found significant drops in rates of obesity among Black Americans. The study analyzed the body mass index (BMI) of over 16.7 million adults nationwide, ensuring the sample was representative of a wide array of races and ethnicities, age groups, insurance statuses, and geographic regions.
Louisiana Reports First Severe Human Case of Bird Flu in U.S.
Last Friday, Louisiana state officials issued a health alert confirming the state’s first case of bird flu; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday that the case is the first severe case in the U.S. The individual is a resident of the southwestern part of Louisiana who reported having exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks that might have been infected with H5N1. According to the CDC, 61 human bird flu cases have been identified in the U.S. this year. Most of the confirmed cases have been in Washington and California, occurring in farm workers who had come into contact with infected dairy cows or poultry. Last week, federal health officials reported a strain of bird flu had been detected in a California child, similar to the strain spreading through livestock throughout the country. However, the child had no known exposure to infected animals. California health officials confirmed that the child was treated with flu antivirals and has since recovered. Experts believe that it is unlikely that community spread explains the California case, arguing that it is more likely that other animals like dogs, cats, or rodents have contributed to the spread.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Saturday, I hosted my fourth Annual Winter Celebration and Diaper Drive, an event I look forward to every year. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to attend and be in community on a chilly winter morning. It was a delight to connect with constituents and friends over donuts, hot chocolate, coffee, and cookie decorating. Diapers are an expensive necessity, and I am grateful to those who donated a box. Many families living in poverty struggle to afford them. In Massachusetts, 36% of households face diaper insecurity, which has significantly impacted their physical and mental well-being. If you missed the event and would like to donate diapers, you can bring them to the Cambridge Community Center.
On Monday, I held office hours with senior residents at the Cambridge Court Apartments at 411 Franklin Street. As always, it was a joy to engage with constituents and hear their questions and concerns. We discussed some of the big bills that passed this session, including the long-term care bill, gun safety omnibus and climate omnibus package, along with my work directly geared towards supporting seniors in our community like cash grant increases to the Emergency Aid to the Elderly and Disabled and Children (EAEDC) program which I have secured in the last five budgets. Thank you to the Cambridge Court Apartments for hosting these office hours, and I look forward to more opportunities to engage next month!
As the next legislative session approaches, we continue to engage in conversations with advocates on current bills, crafting new legislation, and our priority bills. On Tuesday, I met with Mothers Out Front and Environment Massachusetts to discuss the climate omnibus, the environmental bills I filed for this session, and plans for the next session. Mothers Out Front and Environment Massachusetts have been remarkable to work with on climate legislation. I look forward to working alongside them again in the upcoming session.
On Thursday, I celebrated the holiday season and our accomplishments this session with current and former staff. The celebrations included a yoga class for self-care and lunch together. I am so grateful for the work my staff put in every day and the joy they bring with them in everything they do. It's exciting to see them soar and grow when they move onto their next chapters beyond my office, and every day I am in appreciation for the time they invest in serving the Cambridge community and the Commonwealth.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie