AN ACT REQUIRING IMMUNIZATION OF CHILDREN AGAINST HUMAN PAMPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 102 | Status

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has unanimously recommended that 11 and 12 year old girls be routinely vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus which has been linked to nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Approximately 10,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, resulting in nearly 4,000 deaths. A new vaccine, approved by the FDA has the potential to reduce the cervical cancer death rate by more than two-thirds. In addition to the prevention benefits of this vaccine, the Commonwealth could save millions of dollars in avoided costs of caring for women with cervical cancer. This bill would require that all sixth grade females in public and non-public schools be immunized against Human Papillomavirus unless the parents of the student provide a written statement that vaccination conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill also provides that the Commonwealth will cover the cost of the immunizations for children whose financial eligibility is below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.

AN ACT PROMOTING HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 1262 | Status

The purpose of this bill is to reduce obesity and improve the health of Massachusetts’s children by establishing a five-year school nutrition demonstration project that implements stricter standards of nutrition in public schools by limiting the types of food and beverages offered in vending machines located on school property.

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 99 | Status

This proposal would amend chapter 71, section 57 to include non invasive diabetes screening to the eye, hearing and posture screening for school-aged children in public schools in the Commonwealth. 

AN ACT RELATIVE TO FUNDING FOR SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 101 | Status

This bill, based on the State Auditor’s June 2004 report would serve as a funding mechanism for school health services. Specifically, the bill calls for federal reimbursements through the Municipal Medicaid Program to be earmarked for school health services. Currently, the reimbursements are returned to the city/town’s general fund to be used for any purpose. Additionally, the bill also directs DMA and DOE to undertake specified administrative, regulatory, and technical assistance actions to increase the number of claims filed by participating districts.

AN ACT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS

Documents & Status: Text of Senate 608 | Status

Current law states that health insurers are required to reimburse certain licensed mental health professionals including psychotherapists licensed to practice medicine (psychiatrists), psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, clinical specialists in psychiatric and mental health nursing and mental health counselors for outpatient mental health services. Current Massachusetts law provides for licensure of educational psychologists, but does not require insurers to cover their services. This legislation would require health insurers to add licensed educational psychologists to the group of providers they are required to reimburse for outpatient mental health services.