Bill > H4048

This bill aims to reduce post-surgical infection rates by requiring medical or surgical masks to be worn by hospital staff and visitors in surgical intensive care units (SICUs) within commonwealth hospitals. The bill defines a SICU as an intensive care unit specifically focused on post-surgical care, as defined by existing state regulations (105 CMR 130.020). Under this proposed law, anyone in a room or area with a patient in a SICU must wear a medical or surgical mask, and hospitals will be required to display clear signage informing visitors of this mask requirement. The health policy commission will be responsible for developing and implementing the necessary regulations to enforce this new rule. By mandating mask-wearing in these sensitive medical environments, the bill seeks to minimize the transmission of infectious agents and protect vulnerable post-surgical patients from potential healthcare-associated infections.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4048