Governor Baker Signs Health Care Legislation Increasing Access to Quality, Affordable Care, Promoting Telehealth and Protecting Access To COVID-19 Testing, Treatment

I joined Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, Senator Cindy Friedman, and Senator Julian Cyr, for a ceremonial signing of the bill. 

The new law: 

* Increases insurance coverage for telehealth services, 

* Expands the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, other specialized nurses, and optometrists,

* Takes steps to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. 

* Extends requirements for all insurance carriers in Massachusetts to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment. 

* Removes barriers to urgent care centers for MassHealth members 

* Takes several steps to increase MassHealth member access to urgent care sites, including eliminating referral requirements before urgent care visits and requirements for care coordination with the member’s primary care physician. 

To read more about the law - https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-signs-health-care-legislation-increasing-access-to-quality-affordable-care

 

Commuter Rail Schedule Changes Take Effect January 23

From Keolis Commuter Services and the MBTA: 

The MBTA is reminding customers that, as of January 23, 2021, MBTA Commuter Rail schedules take effect which were approved in December 2020 by the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB). It represents an increase in weekday service levels from the current schedule and provides more than 50% of weekday service levels from the same time last year, while current ridership levels are approximately 10%. 

The new Winter Service Schedule starts to align service with the lower ridership levels experienced during the COVD-19 pandemic. Beginning January 23, 2021, Commuter Rail will only offer weekend service on the Newburyport/Rockport, Framingham/Worcester, Fairmount, Providence, and Middleborough Lines. These lines experienced more ridership gains over the last several months compared to other lines and serve transit-critical communities. All other Commuter Rail lines will not have weekend service. 

More details can be found at https://www.mbta.com/news/2021-01-07/commuter-rail-schedule-changes-approved-december-take-effect-january-23

SENATOR BRUCE TARR’S STATEMENT ON THE CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN AND THE LAWLESS VIOLENCE AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING

Boston-Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today: 

“Members of the Congress of the United States have completed the Constitutional duties incumbent on them, the 2020 presidential election results have been affirmed, and the Electoral College ballots have been certified - Joe Biden will become President of the United States on January 20th. The violent lawlessness that ultimately led to the destruction of property, the disruption of Congressional proceedings, and the tragic loss of life, is abhorrent and unjustifiable; I condemn it and the inspiration for it.

Peaceful and purposeful acts of protest will have, and should always have, an important core function in the people’s ability to express their wants, needs, and hopes. In contrast, the marauding and mayhem, fueled by misleading and inflammatory rhetoric, that took place yesterday, at the very location where President-elect Biden will raise his hand to swear an oath to protect the Constitution, was instead, a debasement of that document and its principles.

There is a divide present in our nation but there is also a fundamental ability to heal that divide. My ultimate faith in the goodness of my neighbors, and those who live in communities, and cities and towns across our Commonwealth and our nation, informed from the trials that have tested us in the past, gives me great hope that we can regain our sense of common purpose as Americans.”

"The peaceful transition of power from one duly elected President to the next is a hallmark of our American democracy. Protesters at our nation's Capital Building who are using violence and threats of violence to disrupt, disquiet and disturb the lawful operations of government are a threat against that which all Americans hold dear- a respect for what binds us together as a civil society - the rule of law. 

President Trump must act quickly to disburse the protestors and restore peace to our nation."

Senate Swearing-In

Today marks the first day of the 192nd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will administer the oath of office to all of the newly elected memes of the Senate in an outdoor, socially distant 11:00 AM swearing-in ceremony at Ashburton Park on the grounds of the State House. Immediately following will be an additional swearing-in ceremony in the Senate President’s Office. At 1 PM, there will be a formal session of the Senate in the Senate Chamber in order to elect and appoint officers and certain Senate staff.

The Senate debated an act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy last night. The legislation responds to the tragic 2018 Merrimack Valley explosions by improving gas pipeline safety. Members of the Merrimack Valley legislative delegation called for oversight hearings of Columbia Gas immediately following the incident. The bill also includes legislation I have sponsored to make Massachusetts the first state to approve legislation recognizing the role nature can play in drawing carbon pollution from the atmosphere through my Natural and Working Lands legislation 

In addition, the bill now on Governor Bakers' desk sets a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions limit for the year 2050, increases support for clean energy workforce development programs including those targeting low-income communities, requires emission reduction goals for the state’s energy efficiency program MassSave, increases the requirements for offshore wind energy procurement bringing the statewide total to 5,600 megawatts, and much more.

 

While 2020 brought us hardship, loss, suffering, and division, it also revealed our true and enduring strengths, in so many ways. From the first responders and health care professionals whose skills and endurance were exceeded only by their caring and compassion, to the essential workers who carried on in the face of adversity, to the neighbors who reached out to others with a helping hand of assistance or a generous donation, to the organizations who turned those donations into action and support, 2020 gave us a chance to see just how important we are to each other, and just how powerful it is when differences give way to recognizing our shared humanity and the power of collaboration, civility, and respect. 

My hope is that as we begin a new year that is filled with both promise and continuing challenge, we will remember our common experiences of 2020: those we have lost and those that have suffered, and those whose courage, sacrifice, spirit, and inspiration gave us not only a bright light on our darkest days, but also a beacon to follow as we embark on our personal and collective journey into 2021. 

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!