Welcome to the Health Care Legislation Center for Artists
(This page was updated on7/23/08)
In this section we will list important State Health Care Legislation, as well as National Health Care Legislation. We will also include short briefs on the Legislation and links to the actual text of the Legislation when possible. We encourage you to join the free email list serve on this site. By joining our free list serve you will receive important information ONLY about Health Care issues such as updates on the Massachusetts Health Care Reform law- its requirements and programs, public hearings and meetings for Health Care Reform, key legislation on Health Care Reform (state and national), and other health care related information.
It is also very important to become familiar with the Artists Foundation's Creative Alliance on-line Project and to also become a Citizen Artist. Also see www.artistsunderthedome.org and join that site's FREE list serve.
We urge you to contact your State Senator and State Representative and let them know you are an artist in their district. When you contact their office, let them know what kind of creative work do (if you are a musician, visual artist, etc.) and put them on your mailing list! After that first introduction, let them know that below Legislation is important to you. It will be best to contact them on the below legislation once the bills get assigned bill numbers and we list the talking points for them. So make sure to join the free list serve on this site to be updated when we post that information.Massachusetts Health Care Legislation
Important State Legislation that improves the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law:An Act Relative to Massachusetts Artists(Health Care) House Bill 3936
This bill would improve access to affordable health care for self-employed artists. This bill also increases access for affordable health care for artists who have combination income (they have some freelance/self-employed income).
*Led by the Chairman Representative Turkington of the Joint Committee for Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee and Chairman Senator Hart of the Joint Committee for Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.The Artists Foundation considers this a great bill for artists. PLEASE NOTE a new version of this bill (due to changes the AF advocated for) was submitted and it is not the same as the version on the State's website. This bill will not advance this legislative session (ie it is dead)
An Act Strengthening Health Care Reform(SB 661, HB 1166)
This bill enhances access to coverage and clarifies health reform's definition of affordability. For info on this bill: www.hcfama.org
*Led by Senator Mark Montigny and Representative John Scibak.
The ACT II Coalition, which the Artists Foundation is a member of, is endorsing this bill. This bill will not advance this legislative session (ie it is dead)An Act Relative to Eligibility for State Group Health Insurance Senate Bill 1587
It is known as the Adjunct Health Insurance Bill: SB 1587 This bill would provide part-time faculty who teach the equivalent of four 3-credit courses per calendar year in the state higher education system to be eligible for a state employee insurance plan that is comparable in both cost and coverage to insurance policies held by their public higher education full-time faculty colleagues. After a successful hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Service on July 12, 2007, Senate Bill 1587 was reported out favorably and referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee for their review. If reviewed favorably by this committee, the bill would then be sent to the full Senate for further review and a possible vote.
*Led by the Chairman Senator Moore of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
The Artists Foundation considers this a great piece of legislation for artists.
RELATED LEGISLATION FOR ARTISTS AND THEIR HEALTH CARE
An Act Establishing a Disaster and Emergency Aid Fund for Massachusetts Artists House Bill 3421The bill would allow for the State Treasurer's Office to establish a specific state fund for Disaster/Emergency Aid for Massachusetts Artists. This fund will be used to help artists who have had a health care emergency (i.e. could not pay their medical bills or medical insurance) as well as to help those artists who suffered other types of emergencies (fires, floods, theft). The funds would be generated from the Treasurer's sale of artwork collected by the abandoned property division and funds generated from the private sector. No fund would be taken out of existing state funds or the state budget.
*Led by the Chairman Representative Turkington of the Joint Committee for Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee and Chairman Senator Hart of the Joint Committee for Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.This bill is endorsed by the State Treasurer. The Artists Foundation considers this a great bill for artists. Presently it is in the House Committee on Ways and Means. .
An Act Relative to Independent Contractors House Bill 311
The bill would amend the 2004 Independent Contractor law change. The 2004 law change is negatively impacting the artist community and the arts community because it made it next to impossible for people to be independent contractors in this state. This amendment, however, would still keep key changes in place that keep employers from misusing the independent contractor worker category.
*The Bill was filled by Chairman Representative Rodrigues of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure. Chairman Representative Turkington of the Joint Committee for Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Committee has also signed on to this bill.The Artists Foundation considers this a great bill for artists. It was released out of committee favorably by the Joint Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. and is now in bills for third reading in the House.
An Act Relative to vesting and accumulating creditable service in the State Retirement System for Part Time Faculty teaching in the Commonwealth's Institutions of Higher Education House Bill 2821
It is known as the Adjunct Pension Bill: HB 2821. This bill allows part-time faculty who teach the equivalent of four 3-credit courses per calendar year in the state higher education system to earn a year of creditable service for each year of such teaching experience. House Bill 2821 has been reported out favorably by the Public Service Committee and has been referred to the House Ways & Means Committee for their review. If reported on favorably, the bill would then be sent to the entire House for further review and a possible vote.
The Artists Foundation considers this a great piece of legislation for artists
Legislation that is working towards a single payer model in Massachusetts:
Massachusetts Health Care Trust Bill (currently S. 755)
From the Nurses Association on this bill:
www.massnurses.org
and Information from MassCare:
www.masscare.orgOther Important Health Care Bills filed by Health Care for All: