Health Freedom News | Health Freedom Action Massachusetts

Our Bill is Heard by the Joint Committee on Public Health

State House

On October 15, the public hearing took place virtually for our bill, H.2343/S.1380, An Act Providing for Consumer Access to and the Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services.

With only 72 hours advance notice of the hearing, the bill garnered incredible support from the holistic health community. Qigong Master and State Representative Don Wong was the first to publicly support the bill. He was followed by 11 other individuals who provided strong personal testimony on why it is important – and necessary – to pass this bill. We believe dozens more added their voices to support the bill through written testimony. No one spoke in opposition to the bill.

We now look forward to hearing that the bill has been passed favorably out of committee when we can begin the next steps towards the bill’s passage.

Public Hearing Scheduled Your Testimony Needed!

Public Hearing Scheduled October 15, 2021

Your Testimony Needed!

The public hearing for H.2343/S.1380, An Act Providing for Consumer Access to and the Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services has been scheduled for Friday, October 15, 2021.

We urgently need you to support this bill NOW by providing your testimony — both written and virtual — to pass this legislation and protect your access to the same quality and quantity of alternative health care you enjoy today!

You must register by Wednesday, October 13 if you wish to testify in-person at the virtual hearing.

Here are simple action steps that you can take to support this bill now:

Click on this link to voice your support for the bill with your legislators and with the Joint Committee on Public Health SUPPORT SAFE HARBOR
https://nationalhealthfreedomaction.salsalabs.org/supportmapractitionerexemptionbill
Register to testify via Zoom this Friday using the instructions below
Grant your permission to re-use testimony you prepared in 2019 to support this bill by contacting Carol Bedrosian at carol@spiritofchange.org
Provide written Testimony completing this form: https://forms.gle/7Q79AZKzSCmfoPMP9 or by emailing the committee at by emailing: JointCommittee.PublicHealth@malegislature.gov. Be sure to include your name and address; include “Testimony in Support of H.2343/S.1380“
Spread the work via email and social media to provide testimony and support this bill.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROVIDING TESTIMONY

Here are the State House instructions for providing that testimony now.

The Joint Committee on Public Health will conduct a virtual public hearing on Friday, October 15, 2021 beginning at 10:00 a.m. on bills relating to Professional Licensure and Scope of Practice; and Agencies.

Individuals testifying should limit their remarks to 3 minutes. All panels should limit their testimony to a total of 6 minutes.

Persons who wish to testify, submit written testimony, or both, may sign up and/or submit written testimony by completing this form: https://forms.gle/7Q79AZKzSCmfoPMP9

Persons who do not have a Google account or do not wish to use the Google form can submit testimony and/or sign up to testify by emailing: JointCommittee.PublicHealth@malegislature.gov

For those who have signed up to testify, Legislative Information Services will provide a link to join the public hearing. Persons planning to testify must sign up no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Those who plan to submit only written testimony may do so before or after the sign-up deadline.

Those who do not plan to testify but want to watch the public hearing may view the live stream under the Hearings & Events section of the legislative website.

If you have any questions, you may email: Kathleen.Hornby@mahouse.gov and Brian.Rosman@masenate.gov

SAMPLE TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

The practice of complementary and alternative health care is not a protected right in Massachusetts.
This bill will affect over 100 unlicensed holistic healing modalities that require the protection of a practitioner exemption law to avoid potential charges of practicing medicine without a license. There is no risk of harm to the public from these healing modalities, and therefore no reason for them to become licensed, yet they should have the protection that H.2343/S.1380 “The Massachusetts Consumer Access and Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Act” provides.
Holistic health practices may be interpreted as the provision of health care service only a licensed professional may perform. This could subject practitioners to fine, penalties and restrictions, despite their methods not posing an imminent risk of harm to the public’s safety.
If passed, Massachusetts would join 11 other states in protecting the thousands of complementary and alternative practitioners such as herbalists, homeopaths, traditional naturopaths, Ayurveda practitioners, energy healers, wellness consultants, and many others who are practicing in Massachusetts.
This bill will protect and encourage compliant holistic health practitioners to provide services in Massachusetts, give consumers greater choice and education about their professionals, and provide the state with oversight and public protection through the establishment of prohibited acts in the bill.

Holistic Practitioner Protection Bill assigned to Committee on Public Health

An Act Providing for Consumer Access to and the Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health for review.

Now known as S.1380 with a total of 13 sponsors in the Senate, and H.2343 with 22 sponsors in the House,

Seven of the Seventeen members of the Joint Committee are co-sponsors on the bill.

Next Steps – Educate and Prepare

Our next steps include educating members of the Joint Committee on Public Health about the compelling need for this legislation and preparing for the public hearing.

Our team of volunteers continues to schedule meetings with key legislators to help them to understand the bill and to address any questions they might have. You can assist in these efforts:

How you Can Help

Contact Committee Members in support of this legislation. A person-to-person contact such as a letter or phone call makes a more powerful impression. You may find yourself speaking with an aide, this is very effective. Find committee members’ contact information here: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J16
Continue to Contact your Senator and Representative to register your support for this legislation. A personal letter or phone call is always best. If you have already contacted them use the committee assignment as a chance to check in with them a second time. Continued interest on your part is a powerful influence. Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Pressed for time? If you don’t have time for that personal contact, please click here and you will be directed to an automated letter that will be generated on your behalf.

Expand our Efforts – Join our Mailing List

Help us Grow Support

As we continue to educate legislators about this act, we need the ability to reach out to supporters, like you, by legislative district. Sharing your mailing address allows us to notify you and request your support in targeted meetings with your senators and representatives.

You can share your address by clicking this link:
Sign Me Up!

Holistic Practitioner Protection Bill Gaining Sponsors and Traction!

Holistic Practitioner Protection Bill Gaining Sponsors and Traction!

Our bill, An Act Providing for Consumer Access to and the Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Services, has been filed in both the House and Senate.

Known as SD.1085 in the Senate and HD.1169 in the House, the legislation continues to garner support in both chambers. In addition to co-sponsors from the last legislative session we have a attracted a number of new ones.

John J. Lawn Jr refiled our bill in the House and is supported to date by Brian Ashe, John Barrett III, Christina Minicucci, Kay Khan, Bradford Hill, Christopher Hendricks, Brian Murray, Jack Patrick Lewis, Edward Coppinger, Patrick O’Connor, Natalie Higgins, Michael Moran, Joseph McGonagle, Jr., Jacob Oliveira and Jason Lewis.

On the Senate side, Nick Collins refiled our bill and is joined by co-sponsors Bradford Hill, Christopher Hendricks, John Barrett III, Joanne Comerford, Jack Patrick Lewis, Patrick O’ Connor, Brendan Crighton, Jason Lewis and Christina Minicucci.

Is your lawmaker supporting Health Freedom?

Senators and Representatives may continue to add their endorsement until the bills are reported out of committee.

If you don’t see your legislators listed above, please phone or email them and encourage them to co-sponsor this important act to ensure your continued ability to practice and access alternative health care modalities. Please ask both your senator and your representative to support this bill by calling or emailing today. To generate an automatic letter requesting that your legislators support this bill, CLICK HERE

Your Voice Counts

Hearing from voters is powerful in helping legislation gain traction. As we put plans in place to educate legislators about this act, we need the ability to reach out to supporters, like you, by legislative district. Sharing your mailing address allows us to notify you and request your support in targeted meetings with your senators and representatives. You can share your address by clicking THIS LINK

Onward Towards the Goal

Onward Towards the Goal

So much has changed with the global pandemic but our commitment to health freedom has not. 2019 and 2020 brought us encouragement that the Massachusetts state legislature stood with us as we filed bills in the House and Senate, secured bi-partisan co-sponsors for each bill and enjoyed strong support at the public hearing of the bill.

The bill, S.665/H.3660, The Massachusetts Consumer Access and Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Act enables complementary and alternative healthcare practitioners to continue providing services without restriction, provided they abide by defined prohibited acts and mandatory disclosures.

The bill was passed favorably out of the Joint Committee on Public Health and moved to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means – the last set before proceeding to the General Assembly for a vote – a just as COVID-19 shut down normal business operations.

With the State House taking up a burgeoning list of urgent needs related to the pandemic, this legislation was moved aside and was not addressed before the end of the legislative session.

Now, the bill has been filed again as SD.1085/ HD.1169 and will soon be filed in the Senate as well. We look forward to making this act a reality in this legislative session. Your continued support is important to us as move onward towards our goal to ensure that Massachusetts consumers are guaranteed their right to access and practice complementary and alternative healthcare services.

We’re In the Final Stretch! Please Help!

We’re In the Final Stretch! Please Help!

S.2634 Safe Harbor Bill protecting holistic practitioners from potential charges of practicing medicine without a license, still sits in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, awaiting a favorable release out of the Committee and onto the Senate floor for a vote.

Bill co-sponsor Senator Nick Collins has submitted a letter to urge Committee Chair Senator Rodrigues to take action now.

We are now asking for your help in contacting Senate Leadership to assure their support. Please contact Senate President Spilka at (617) 722-1500 or Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov, and Senate Majority leader Cynthia Creem at (617) 722-1639 or Cynthia.Creem@masenate.gov and ask that they bring S.2634 to the floor for a vote today.

Thank you!

HFAMA Committee

Summer Outreach Needed More than Ever!

As our bill, The Massachusetts Consumer Access and Right to Practice Complementary and Alternative Health Care Act, moves toward a fall hearing, it is more important to keep the pressure on our legislators to support the legislation.

August 1, Massachusetts legislators began a summer recess. While it might be a quiet time on Beacon Hill, it is an active time for legislators in their districts. To keep attention firmly focused on our bill, please take advantage of this time to meet personally with your senator and representative in your communities. Opportunities abound. Think about approaching your legislators directly at their district office or at community events like:

Homecoming days/Local Celebrations

Town Hall Meetings/Community Workshops

Breaking Ground/Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

Service Club Meetings like Rotary, Elks, Lions, Kiwanis

League of Women Voter Meetings

Chamber of Commerce Meetings

Council on Aging Meetings

Vigils/Commemorations

Worship Services/Coffee Hours/Suppers

Advocacy Meetings on Child Care, Criminal Justice Reform, Education Reform, Transportation, Mental Health, Health Care Reform, etc.

Sporting Events

Legislators are looking to connect with their constituents at these events to find out what is on their minds. Check their Facebook pages to find out which events they will be attending. Contact their local office to set up a meeting or learn their schedule of events. Use these events to let them know that you are concerned about the fact that the practice of alternative and complementary health care is not a protected right in Massachusetts. Advise them that S.665/H3660 is vitally important to you to ensure that the citizens of the Commonwealth will continue to have access to holistic health practitioners.

If you can’t find a way to connect in person, please take a moment to call and leave a voice mail at their offices. Or write an email. You can find your legislators here along with their address (click on their name for the address): https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

We are entering the home stretch as we prepare for the fall hearing on our bill. Let’s make sure that we continue to make our voices heard. Loud and strong. That is the only way that we will firmly establish in their minds the importance of this issue. It is the only way that we will win their vote for this critical issue. Your access to holistic health care is at risk. Please take action NOW to ensure your health freedom.

Rallying Support

Our first Rally Day for S665 at the State House March 28th.

March 28 marked the first of our three spring Rally Days to draw supporters of health freedom to the State House. Thirteen individuals came together to lobby legislators to support bills S665 and HD3538. Wearing badges reading “S665 Support Health Freedom”, the group fanned out across the State House to meet with the legislators representing their districts and key committee members currently reviewing the bills (Joint Committee for Health Care Finance and the Joint Committee for Public Health). In the final tally, they met with over 20 senators and representatives leaving behind a strong message of support for safe harbor legislation and securing Senator John Rogers as new co-sponsor for our legislation in the process! We’re looking forward to getting our message out to even more legislators as we plan our next Rally Day for April 11.

Bringing the Number of House Co-Sponsors to 14!

(Bills are filed separately in the Senate and the House. HFAMA has been collecting support in both houses of the legislature . Each version has a different number and needs to be supported and tracked.)

Our House bill, HD.3538, emerged from placeholder status (where bills go when they are first filed) on March 14, giving us only 7 days to collect additional co-sponsors for the legislation. With the pressure on, Kim Valeri Povey made the rounds at the State House, garnering 8 additional co-signers bringing to 14 the number of co-signers on the bill filed on our behalf by Rep. John Lawn, Jr. Support for the bill comes from Democrats and Republicans alike from counties across the state including Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, Plymouth, Berkshire, Bristol, Worcester, Hampshire and Hampden.

Kim Povey at the Statehouse
Representatives Hill & Poirier with Kim Povey
Representative Ashe and Kim Povey

Kim is all smiles flanked by new co-sponsors Reps. Brad Hill and Elizabeth Poirier. Moments later, Rep. Ashe confirmed his commitment to the measure and posed with HFAMA advocate Kim Valeri Povey. After landing 8 new co-sponsors, it’s hard to imagine a more welcoming reception at the State House than the one Kim had over the past two days.

We Need Your Ongoing Support!

Massachusetts has formally introduced Senate Bill 665/House Bill 3660, a bill to protect access to complementary and alternative health care practitioners in Massachusetts. This is due to the direct efforts of the HFAMA Committee for Consumer Protection and Access to Complementary and Alternative Health Care.

What you can do: Start building a relationship with your Senate and House Representatives by sending a personal message of support for Senate Bill 665/House Bill 3660 to your legislators.

Follow up with a call to your legislators to leave a message reiterating your support of Senate Bill 665/House Bill 3660 and let them know why you support Senate Bill 665/House Bill 3660 . Find your legislators here.

Please join our hfama mailing list to be updated with our efforts and to be notified of specific times when we need you to contact your legislators.

And we can use your support through donations and volunteer efforts. Thank you!