Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative and public health updates.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you a happy new year! I look forward to continuing to represent the 25th Middlesex District and our Cambridge community in 2025 and beyond.
The 194th Session of the General Court kicked off on New Year's Day (more information below), and with that, we are working hard to draft bills that will be filed in the next few weeks. I invite you to share bill ideas and important issues with me.
Do you have stories regarding menopause, or resources or thoughts around what could improve health care for people experiencing menopause? Last session I was so proud to author and lead the passage of a maternal health bill. This session, I will continue some of that work while also taking on the issue of menopause. Feel free to email us with your thoughts or ideas. I have been meeting with experts and will continue to think about legislation might look like.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Legislature Passes Health Care Legislation
Last week, the House and the Senate both voted to pass two healthcare-related Conference Committee reports. An Act enhancing the market review process is a comprehensive hospital oversight bill that:
Closes loopholes in the healthcare market regulatory process exposed by the collapse of Steward Health Care,
Increases financial transparency by gathering more information regarding hospital finances, and
Assists in maintaining a more stable and sustainable healthcare system.
An amendment I filed to the House version of the bill that adds a representative with expertise on behavioral health, substance use disorder, mental health services, and mental health reimbursement system to the Health Policy Commission (HPC) Governing Board was included in this legislation.
An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency is a comprehensive reform to lower the cost of prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter and improve oversight of the state’s pharmaceutical industry. Importantly, the bill requires insurers to cover medications for diabetes, asthma, and certain heart conditions with no or limited out-of-pocket costs for patients. For each condition, insurers are required to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for one generic drug and to cap co-payments on one brand-name drug at $25 per 30-day supply. The bill also drastically increases state oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which currently negotiate prescription drug prices with little oversight.
Both bills affirm the Legislature’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system in Massachusetts by improving transparency, accountability, and affordability. They are important responses to ensure a destabilizing crisis like what is going on with Steward will not happen again. They also seek to address the exorbitant rising costs of medication. Our focus on chronic illness was intentional, as residents of color disproportionately face chronic illness, but we also know that PBMs and private insurers need increasing regulatory oversight to ensure they are acting in the best interest of consumers.
I am also excited that an amendment I worked on was just passed as a standalone bill and signed by the Governor. It adds not-for-profit organizations registered as a blood establishment with the FDA to the list of organizations/hospitals that can establish and maintain a blood bank. Until now, the American Red Cross was the only organization that was allowed to do this. By expanding the list of organizations that can operate blood banks, this law enhances our capacity to collect, store, and distribute blood. This will not only broaden the network and supply of blood collection agencies but also strengthen our ability to meet critical healthcare needs, especially in light of recent blood shortages. I’ve spent time visiting blood banks in the last two sessions, and have developed a deep understanding of the importance of expanding these establishments.
Cambridge Home Rule Petition to Expand Municipal Code Signed into Law!
On Thursday, Governor Healey signed into law a home rule petition I filed on behalf of the Cambridge City Council adding “relationship status” and “family structure” to protected classes within the Cambridge Municipal Code. Recognizing that family structures continue to evolve, and relationships that involve more than two adults engaged in a loving and consensual relationship face discrimination in many aspects of public life, this change to the Municipal Code will protect the rights of diverse relationships and families in Cambridge.
Public Health Updates
Cases of Whooping Cough Surge Across the U.S.
Cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, have been climbing for months, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that cases will continue to surge throughout this winter. Diagnosed cases of whooping cough were nearly six times higher at the end of 2024 than during the same period of the previous year. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis, a type of bacteria. Whooping cough is most commonly spread from person to person when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, dispersing bacteria particles into the air. Symptoms of whooping cough vary with age and vaccination status, but initial symptoms are similar to those of a cold that worsen over time coupled with a persistent and uncontrollable cough.
New CDC Data Shows Surge in Norovirus Outbreak
Cases of norovirus, often called the stomach bug, are on the rise in the US, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Norovirus infections are highly contagious and characterized by sudden vomiting and diarrhea. The virus can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. Norovirus is also the leading cause of foodborne illness in the US and is responsible for over 90% of diarrheal illness outbreaks on cruise ships. Recent CDC data shows there were 91 suspected or confirmed outbreaks of the virus during the week of December 5th, which is an increase from 69 reported outbreaks the week before. In previous years during the same period, 65 or less outbreaks were typically reported each week.
FDA Proposes New Rule to Standardize Asbestos Testing in Cosmetic Products
Last Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a proposed federal rule that would establish and require standardized testing methods to detect asbestos in cosmetic products containing talc in an effort to assure consumers that personal care products like makeup and baby powder are safe for use. The rule is also aligns with a 2023 federal law, the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA), which requires the FDA to establish new industry standards for asbestos testing. The rulemaking takes place after years of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson maintaining that talc-based baby powder is linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Talc is a natural mineral that is composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen and has many uses in cosmetic and personal use products such as absorbing moisture and improving the texture of those products. However, the mining process may allow for cross contamination with asbestos as underground talc deposits are sometimes located near deposits of the toxic mineral.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Wednesday, I joined my House colleagues for the biannual swearing-in ceremony, which officially marks the start of the 194th legislative session. I will miss my incredible colleagues who retired at the end of last session, but was excited to welcome 19 new members to the House of Representatives. After being sworn in, the House voted to reappoint Speaker Mariano as Speaker. Pictured above, you can see photos of me and my colleagues in the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and among the special honorary committee tasked with informing Governor Healey that the House was assembled and that members were ready to take the oaths and affirmations of office.
Additionally, we swore in Timothy Carroll as the new House Clerk, succeeding Steven James, who served in the role for 26 years and in the Clerk’s Office for 60. I am grateful to Clerk James’ dedicated service. He was always available and responsive, providing helpful guidance throughout his tenure. Clerk James, pictured above with me, embodies public service, and he has left an indelible impact on the Commonwealth through his shepherding of countless legislative sessions, bills, and amendments.
These last couple of weeks I have been meeting with constituents and advocates about bills I will file and support in the new session. I will continue to have these meetings over the next few weeks until bills have to be filed.
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