Bill > H1863

This bill proposes to establish a minimum hourly health improvement wage in Massachusetts. The key provisions are: 1. The Public Health Council (PHC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) are authorized to analyze and develop recommendations for a Minimum Health Care Improvement Wage, including creating regulations for pilot programs and full implementation. 2. The bill would require employers with at least 50 employees to provide a certain amount of health care compensation for each hour worked by each employee, creating an equality of health care costs among employers. 3. The Minimum Health Care Improvement Wage would be implemented first as a pilot program, and then recommended for full implementation based on the experience gained. 4. Specific tax credits would be available during the pilot program period to help cover the costs of the program, especially for employers with less than 50 employees who would be entitled to voluntary participation. The overall goal of the bill is to improve access to healthcare and health services for individuals who may be working multiple part-time jobs that lack full benefits, by requiring employers to provide a minimum health care compensation for each hour worked.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1863