Rep. Stanley, MA House Pass Bill Safeguarding Reproductive and Gender Affirming Health Care Services

(BOSTON- 07/16/2025) - The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation that preserves and protects access for individuals and practitioners engaging in personal health care activities in the Commonwealth. The bill, H.4271 An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth strengthens the abilities of individuals who are making decisions about their own reproductive and gender affirming health care services.

"In the wake of Federal attacks, the Shield Act ensures protections for patients, providers, and advocates engaging in reproductive and gender affirming healthcare," said Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham). "I am proud to continue the Commonwealth's commitment to preserving the rights that allow individuals to make their own healthcare decisions. Patients and providers should not be fearful of receiving and providing legal health care services in the Commonwealth."

Building on protections first enshrined into law in 2022, this legislation prohibits state agencies, employees and law enforcement from cooperating with other states or federal investigations into reproductive or gender affirming health care that is legally protected in Massachusetts. The bill similarly restricts businesses that manage electronic health records from sharing patient data connected to these services.

The bill makes clear that health care professionals are free to provide legal health care services in Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth will resist attempts by other states or the federal government to prosecute health care professionals for providing those services.

Additionally, the bill:

● Exempts the personally identifying information of patients and providers regarding reproductive and gender affirming health care from the public records law.

● Requires hospitals to provide stabilizing health care services to patients presenting with emergency medical conditions.

● Empowers the Department of Public Health to remove drugs prescribed in connection with reproductive or gender affirming health care from the prescription monitoring program (PMP) and prohibits the Department from sharing PMP information sought by other states in connection with legally protected health care activities in the Commonwealth.

● Prohibits the state’s Center for Health Information and Analysis and the Health Connector from providing information to other entities, states, or the federal government regarding legally protected health care activities in Massachusetts, and forbids entities working with these agencies from using data collected to target patients or providers.

● Protects attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on the topics of reproductive or transgender health care services.

● Forbids insurance companies from discriminating against or penalizing nonprofits who offer reproductive and gender affirming health care services.

● Prohibits courts from using the laws of other states prohibiting gender affirming care as grounds to alter custody or visitation rights for children in Massachusetts.

● Clarifies that Boards of Registration may not take disciplinary actions against practitioners for providing legally protected health care services, and prohibits boards from noting in a provider’s records any criminal, legal or disciplinary actions brought against them in other jurisdictions for providing health care services that are legally protected in the Commonwealth.

Having passed the House 136-23, the bill now goes back to the State Senate for further consideration.

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