Friend,
Thanks to your advocacy, Governor Baker signed the ACCESS Bill into law last month, making Massachusetts the first state to take action against the Trump administration's gutting of birth control coverage requirements.
Now, we’re calling on you again to take action on another important bill -
An Act to Protect Access to Confidential Health Care, or the PATCH bill (
SB591
/
HB2960
).
What would this do?
E
stablish greater privacy protections for anyone insured under another person’s health plan. This means that vulnerable individuals would be mailed their bill for confidential healthcare services - not the subscriber.
Why is this important?
Unless we take action, this gap in confidentiality and related fear of being shamed or harmed will continue
to deter people from seeking out birth control, STI and HIV testing, treatment for substance use disorders, or even domestic violence counseling services
.
We must build on the momentum of the ACCESS law’s success – can we count on you to call your state lawmakers and tell them to pass the PATCH bill?
Use the script below to guide your conversation.
To find your State Senator and State Representative,
click here
.
Part of our mission is to ensure "unimpeded access to services for all" and PATCH will make this value ring true in Massachusetts.
Thank you for your dedication to your clients and for your advocacy!
Script:
I am a constituent of Senator/Representative _____ and member of NASW. As a social worker, I see what happens firsthand when my clients can't access healthcare.
[Share personal story of a client not seeking care due to fear of a bill being sent to the subscriber]
. That is why I am asking you to please pass the PATCH bill, because our clients can't wait.
[Thank them for their support].
Also, what else can I do as your constituent to make sure that this passes?
