Shrewsbury Rep. Hannah Kane Named To Primary Care Conference Committee

will help negotiate a final version of legislation aimed at expanding access to primary care and lowering health care costs in Massachusetts

By Jessie Castellano, Patch Staff

Aug 6, 2026 4:02 PM EDT

State Rep. Hannah Kane was named to the conference committee focused on expanding access to primary care. (Office Of Rep. Hannah E. Kane)

SHREWSBURY, MA — Shrewsbury and Westborough state Rep. Hannah Kane will help negotiate a final version of legislation aimed at expanding access to primary care and lowering health care costs in Massachusetts.

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr. appointed Kane to a six-member conference committee tasked with reconciling differences between House and Senate primary care bills. The committee will seek to produce a compromise measure for Gov. Maura Healey's consideration.

The Senate approved its bill in a 35-4 vote on June 18. The House passed its version unanimously, 158-0, on July 30.

See Also: Shrewsbury, Westborough Students Intern For Rep. Hannah Kane At State House

Both proposals would increase investments in primary care services to 15 percent of total statewide health care spending. The Senate bill sets a 2030 deadline for reaching that target while the House proposal sets a 2036 deadline.

"Primary care is the foundation of our health care system," Kane said. "When people have access to high-quality, affordable primary care, they can receive preventative care and early treatment that avoids expensive emergency department visits and hospitalizations, lowering health care costs and reducing burdens for both health care professionals and patients."

The House bill would also restrict the use of artificial intelligence in health insurance coverage decisions. Insurance carriers would be required to disclose their use of automated utilization review tools and could not deny coverage based solely on those tools. The Senate bill does not include similar provisions.

Another difference involves prescription drug rebates. The House proposal would require insurance carriers, pharmacy benefit managers and affiliated entities to make at least 80 percent of estimated rebates available to consumers through reduced cost-sharing at the point of sale.

The House bill would also require the state Board of Registration in Pharmacy to receive at least 60 days' notice before a pharmacy closes. The board could hold a public hearing to determine whether the closure would create a pharmacy desert and identify alternative pharmacy options.

Joining Kane on the committee are state Reps. Aaron Michlewitz of Boston and Meghan Kilcoyne of Clinton, as well as state Sens. Cindy Friedman of Arlington, John Cronin of Fitchburg and Bruce Tarr of Gloucester.

Jones cited Kane's work as the ranking House Republican on the Legislature's health care financing and public health committees in announcing the appointment.