The bill titled "An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth" aims to enhance legal protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care services in Massachusetts. It introduces amendments that include personal information protections for individuals involved in these services, prohibits state and local agencies from cooperating with federal law enforcement on investigations related to legally-protected health care activities, and ensures that evidence of involvement in such activities cannot be used against individuals in legal proceedings. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce these provisions through civil actions. Additionally, the bill modifies regulations regarding identifiable health information, ensuring that such data is not disclosed in response to out-of-state or federal inquiries, and allows for the labeling of controlled substances prescribed for reproductive or gender-affirming health care to include the name of the health care practice instead of the prescribing practitioner.

Moreover, the bill mandates that businesses storing medical information related to reproductive health care and gender-affirming services develop policies to limit access to authorized individuals only and prevent unauthorized disclosure outside the Commonwealth. It prohibits the collection and dissemination of individually identifiable data on abortions and gender-affirming health care services by the commissioner of public health, ensuring that personal information is not considered public record. The legislation also provides legal protections for healthcare providers, attorneys, and nonprofit organizations involved in these services, preventing disciplinary actions against professionals for providing such care, and prohibits insurance discrimination against organizations offering these services. Additionally, it establishes that laws from other jurisdictions penalizing parents for allowing their children to receive gender-affirming care cannot be used in custody or abuse cases in Massachusetts, thereby safeguarding the privacy of patients and the rights of providers.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 12C-12, 66-10B, 112-12Q, 147-63