Massachusetts lawmakers have returned from summer recess and are preparing to tackle a robust legislative agenda this fall. Legislators will meet formally through the third Wednesday in November, at which point formal sessions will end until 2018. Below is ML Strategies’ forecast and analysis of the issues that lawmakers on Beacon Hill will likely address this fall.

Legislative Agenda -

Health Care -

At the top of the legislative agenda is tackling rising Masshealth costs after lawmakers and Governor Charlie Baker were unable to agree upon a comprehensive reform package over the summer. After rejecting last month Masshealth eligibility reforms that Governor Baker had proposed earlier in the summer, lawmakers promised to continue debating health care cost containment and offer their own plans. During August the Senate held three roundtable discussions, and a health care working group plans on filing legislation in late September or early October.