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MA S1482
Bill
Status
2/27/2025
Primary Sponsor
Joanne Comerford
Click for details
AI Summary
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Requires all Massachusetts hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities to adopt policies ensuring elimination of surgical smoke through smoke evacuation systems during procedures using energy-based devices like electrosurgery and lasers
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Defines "surgical smoke" as by-products including surgical plume, bio-aerosols, laser-generated airborne contaminants, and lung-damaging dust created when energy devices contact tissue
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Establishes minimum fine of $500 per violation for facilities that fail to comply with smoke evacuation requirements
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Takes effect January 1, 2026, with facilities required to report their compliance policies to the Department of Public Health by April 1, 2026
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Sponsored by Senators Joanne M. Comerford, John F. Keenan, and Michael D. Brady; similar legislation was filed in the 2023-2024 session
Legislative Description
Protecting patients and health care workers from exposure to surgical smoke
Last Action
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
7/10/2025