On Tuesday, June 19, 2018, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed comprehensive health care legislation by a vote of 117-32. The bill, titled The Honorable Peter V. Kocot Act to Enhance Access to High Quality, Affordable, and Transparent Health Care in the Commonwealth, (HB4617) was approved after the House considered 174 amendments proposed to the legislation initially released by the Health Care Financing Committee, ultimately approving 24. The House’s approval of the legislation follows the Senate’s passage of its own health care bill (SB2202) last November.

The bill notably levies assessments on insurers and large hospitals to generate funds for stabilizing community hospitals, increases transparency around pharmaceutical drug pricing, erects protections for consumers against out-of-network billing, and removes barriers to the use of telemedicine. Below is a summary of the bill’s main provisions...