Massachusetts H 2497: An Act relative to medical health and fitness facilities

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3533 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2497

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Paul McMurtry
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to medical health and fitness facilities.
_______________
PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Paul McMurtry 11th Norfolk 1/17/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3533 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2497
By Representative McMurtry of Dedham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2497) of
Paul McMurtry relative to medical health and fitness facilities. Public Health.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2237 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to medical health and fitness facilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 237 the
2 following section:
3 Section 238. (A) As used in this section the following words shall have the following
4 meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise – “Medical Health and Fitness Facilities”
5 (“MHFF”) are defined as any wellness facility that has created protocols and operating
6 procedures which all such facilities will need to achieve and maintain in order to be recognized
7 as such a facility by the Department.
8 (B)Medical Health and Fitness Facilities as recognized by the Department must adhere to
9 and achieve the following safety standards and facility specifications and requirements:

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10 1. Size: MHFF facilities must exhibit the ability to physically accommodate the
11 rules and regulations set forth by the Massachusetts Safety and Standards Checklist with regard
12 to:
13 a. Social distancing
14 b. 6ft and 14ft separation requirements
15 c. Directional pathways
16 d. Adhere to limitations on maximum facility occupancy at any given time
17 2. Medical Application Standards: MHFF facilities must maintain, adhere to and
18 provide for all of the following medical safeguards and medical service programs:
19 a. Written policies and procedures regarding member/guest safety
20 b. Emergency response procedures
21 c. Individualized health assessments
22 d. Disease management and prevention programs
23 e. Lifestyle change/health-risk reduction programs
24 f. Physical therapy, post-operative/injury
25 g. Physical therapy continued care program
26 h. Implementation and maintenance of a Medical Advisory Board

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27 i. Medical Advisory Board (“MAB”) is group of healthcare professionals headed
28 by a Medical Director that meet on at least a quarterly basis for the purpose of reviewing and
29 providing professional oversight for all aforementioned medical applications: The members of
30 the MAB should be recognized experts in their field. Their combined experience and valued
31 insights should direct the facility in all efforts to enhance all existing wellness programs as well
32 as maintain and improve the safety protocols for current participants. The MAB also plays a
33 large part in determining what new services and or lifestyle improvement programs may be
34 needed or valuable to neighboring communities and the client/patient community.
35 i. Medical Director
36 i. The Medical Director is a licensed medical physician who sits on the
37 Medical Advisory Board and oversees, directs and reviews all communications with the MAB.
38 ii. The Medical Director is responsible for the safe and appropriate
39 application of all medical programs within the facility.
40 3. Staffing Requirements and Qualifications
41 a. All MHFF facilities are required to employ personnel in the following full-time
42 positions with qualifications listed.
43 b. Fitness Director: must have a minimum of an Exercise Physiology or Health
44 Science Degree or the equivalent.
45 c. Certified Pool Operator: Facilities with pools and/or hot tubs and Jacuzzi must
46 have a certified pool operator.

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47 d. Operations Manager: Must have a BS in Facility and or Operations Management
48 with 5+ years’ experience.
49 e. Fitness Manager on Duty (“FMOD”): all facilities must employ a fitness manger
50 on duty at all times of operation.
51 f. Medical Director: All facilities must have a licensed medical physician to oversee
52 the MAB. The Medical Director will be responsible for overseeing the medical and behavioral
53 change programs within each facility. The Medical Director will work with the MAB and facility
54 management in order to coordinate various interdisciplinary teams to execute the facility’s
55 me