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星期五, 6月 05, 2026
Massachusetts Opioid-related Overdose Deaths Fall Under 1,000 for the First Time in Over a Decade
Governor Healey Statement on New Prior Authorization Reforms Going into Effect
Governor Healey Statement on New Prior Authorization Reforms Going into Effect
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey released the following statement regarding new prior authorization regulations that take effect today and are designed to reduce unnecessary barriers to care, improve transparency and streamline the health insurance approval process for patients and providers:
“These reforms cut red tape, eliminate prior authorization requirements for many common services and help ensure people can get the care they need without unnecessary delays. If you have diabetes, it will be easier to stay on the medications you rely on. If you're undergoing cancer treatment, it will be easier to access the scans your doctors need to guide treatment decisions. These changes will make the health care system work better for patients and providers while helping people get the right care at the right time. This is all part of our efforts to make health care more affordable, accessible and patient-centered.”
The regulations, adopted by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, eliminate prior authorization requirements for a number of routine and essential health care services, including primary care services, preventive care, maternity care, urgent care services, outpatient substance use disorder treatment, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. They also establish new patient protections for individuals with chronic conditions and strengthen continuity of care requirements when patients change insurance plans.
These changes build on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's efforts to make health care more affordable, accessible and patient-centered for Massachusetts residents.
Massachusetts Senate to Debate Landmark Child Welfare Legislation
麻州高強度早期識字輔導計劃 即起開放各校申請7月公佈結果
(Boston Orange編譯)麻州政府6月4日宣佈，開放各校申請新學期「高強度密集」早期識字輔導，並同步啟動「建構學生輔導持續成效（Building Ongoing Outcomes in Student Tutoring）」試辦計畫，以期藉由州政府的全額補貼學校與家庭，幫助低年級學童建立關鍵閱讀能力。
這是麻州中小學教育廳（Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, DESE）主導的計畫，採用一對一或小組教學。輔導員每週授課多次，持續至少10週，可依校方需求在課前、課中或課後以實體或線上進行。服務對象以一年級學生為主，並涵蓋幼稚園至三年級的合格學童。教育廳核可的供應商將利用診斷數據與實證教學法，提供以學生為中心的精準指導。
評選結果預計7月揭曉。麻州教育廳廳長茲里克（Steve Zrike）指出，這措施將可讓學童在三年級前就達到流暢閱讀程度。計劃經費目前由麻州政府預算與美國教育部的聯邦教育創新與研究（Education Innovation and Research, EIR）補助金共同支持，後者將專款用於 BOOST 計畫以評估教學的長期成效。
麻州政府積極推動學生識字率。州長奚莉（Maura Healey）在2025-26學年度已投入2500萬美元資金，成功支持全州300多所學校提供密集輔導。該計畫也是「識字啟航：3歲至3年級閱讀成功計畫」（Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3）的重要一環，將持續透過教育人員培訓全面提升早期教育品質。
EVERETT— The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that Massachusetts schools and districts can now apply for high-dosage early literacy tutoring for the upcoming school year, helping more young students build the foundational reading skills critical for long-term academic success.
波士頓市成立特種活動協調中心 FIFA世界足球盃等大盛會安全無虞
MAYOR MICHELLE WU HIGHLIGHTS CITY’S READINESS FOR SUMMER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCES COORDINATED PREPARATION EFFORTS ACROSS BOSTON
City departments, public safety agencies, and regional partners prepared to support a safe and successful summer as Boston welcomes the world to our City
BOSTON – Thursday, June 4, 2026 – Mayor Michelle Wu today joined City leaders and public safety officials at the Boston Summer Events Command Center (BSECC) to provide an update on the extensive planning and coordination efforts underway to prepare for a summer that will bring millions of residents and visitors together for major events across Boston.
This summer, Boston will host multiple major events: FIFA World Cup, Sail Boston and Boston 250. With the World Cup set to begin in a few days and Tall Ships arriving in Boston Harbor later this summer, the City has spent more than two years working alongside local, State, and Federal partners to ensure these events are safe, successful, and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.
"As Boston welcomes residents and visitors alike for a summer filled with world-class events, our teams are working every day to ensure everyone can enjoy a safe, fun, and memorable experience," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "From neighborhood celebrations to major international events, we are proud to welcome guests from around the world while continuing to deliver the excellent City services that make Boston a great place to live, work, and visit.”
The City's preparations span every aspect of City operations, including transportation planning, emergency management, public health readiness, installing wayfinding, public safety coordination, and basic city services.
“Boston is ready to welcome the world this summer. While the FIFA Fan Festival at City Hall Plaza will serve as the center of our downtown activation, our planning and preparations extend across every neighborhood,” said Chief of Operations Dion Irish. “For more than two years, City departments and our local, state, and federal partners have worked together to support tournament activities and community events throughout Boston while continuing to deliver the high-quality services residents rely on every day.”
The Boston Transportation Department is anticipating increased traffic activity across neighborhoods on match day at Boston Stadium and has ensured the City is well prepared. Preparation work includes: implementing designated rideshare pick-up and drop-off zones, targeted curb regulation changes, and operational plans designed to improve traffic flow and support safe, efficient travel to and from major event sites. Transportation teams will actively monitor conditions throughout the summer and make adjustments as needed to minimize impacts on residents, businesses, and daily city operations.
“Our priority is to keep residents, businesses, workers, and visitors moving safely and reliably in Boston,” said Interim Chief of Streets Nick Gove. “We are coordinating closely with our public safety, transportation, and regional partners to ensure the City is ready to safely and efficiently manage increased activity on our streets and additional demands on our transportation network.”
The Office of Emergency Management has led extensive planning efforts across City departments, state agencies, federal partners, and event organizers to ensure a unified approach to summer operations. The office has developed comprehensive contingency plans for a range of scenarios, including severe weather, public safety incidents, transportation disruptions, and other emergencies, ensuring the City is prepared to respond quickly and effectively if needed.
“As part of our preparations for the summer season, we have established a new Special Events Coordination Center on behalf of the City. This center will serve as the central point of coordination for public safety, public health, transportation, and other key agencies.” said Chief of Emergency Management Adrian Jordan. “By bringing these partners together, we can maintain a heightened state of readiness, enhance situational awareness, and ensure we are prepared to implement contingency plans quickly and effectively should an incident occur.”
“Through close coordination with our public safety and healthcare partners, we have spent months preparing for this summer,” said Boston EMS Chief James Hooley. “Our responsibility is twofold: providing medical support for these world-class events while continuing to deliver emergency care in every neighborhood across Boston. We will strategically position resources, expand specialized capabilities, and ensure our members are trained and ready for both the expected and the unexpected.”
In addition to emergency preparedness and making sure hospital and healthcare systems are equipped for various types of emergencies, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is tracking infectious diseases and environmental hazards that could impact Boston this summer. BPHC monitors wastewater to provide real-time visibility to make rapid, coordinated decisions around illnesses and diseases. To protect against diseases, BPHC has expanded access to vaccines across the city, including working with Boston Public Schools to ensure families are up-to-date on vaccinations ahead of the summer and increasing mpox vaccinations for those at-risk. BPHC also monitors heat, air, and water quality and works with the City to issue alerts and guidance on boston.gov/summer and on social media.
BPHC has strengthened existing systems and trained public health staff to respond to domestic violence and sexual assault incidents during major events. In partnership with survivor-serving organizations and youth workers, BPHC has built capacity to ensure survivors from all backgrounds can access safety resources and support. BPHC has also led trainings for personnel at restaurants, bars, airports, and hotels, covering CPR, overdose response, drink spiking, domestic violence, sexual assault, and up-to-date prevention practices such as handwashing.
“We want to ensure that all Boston residents and visitors are safe and healthy while enjoying these events,” said City of Boston Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Bisola Ojikutu. “We are working collaboratively with our partners and with community members to create a healthy and memorable summer in Boston for everyone. Public health is a team sport and takes all of us. So look out for one another, make sure that your vaccinations are up-to-date, stay home when you are sick, and take care of yourself and those around you.”
To support visitors navigating the city, the City is deploying temporary wayfinding signage throughout Downtown Boston that will help direct people to major destinations, including South Station, City Hall Plaza, and key event locations. Streets Cabinet teams have also completed extensive preparations to ensure Boston's streets and core city services are ready to support increased activity throughout the summer.
City officials emphasized that preparations extend beyond event venues and Downtown Boston. Throughout the summer, Boston will support community celebrations and neighborhood activations across the city while working to ensure that residents and small businesses share in the economic and cultural benefits generated by these major events.
“We are a world-class City and whether it is Sail Boston, FIFA, July 4th or Boston 250, we are working with our City, State and Federal partners to make these safe and enjoyable events for all. As always, we need the public to work alongside us, as a critical partner in these efforts,” said Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. “We are prepared for these major summer events, and we are ready to keep our neighborhoods safe, and to continue to work with our residents and businesses.”
The Boston Police Department reminds residents and visitors: if you See Something, Say Something. BPD encourages everyone to report unattended bags or suspicious behavior to officers immediately. For all major events this summer, residents and visitors are asked to leave large bags, backpacks, and drones at home. Public drinking, consumption of marijuana, and violent or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Officials also urge residents and visitors to stay alert to scams and fraud, protect yourself by using only official websites and paying with credit cards that offer fraud protection. In the case of an emergency, call 911.
The Boston Fire Department reminds residents that the use of pyrotechnics and fireworks is not allowed. Additionally, BFD encourages residents and visitors to be mindful of overcrowding in public spaces and particularly on decks and roof decks to avoid injury.
“The Boston Fire Department is well prepared for these upcoming events,” said Boston Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall. “We continue to work collaboratively with our partner agencies and the Office of Emergency Management to develop and tailor comprehensive plans designed to strengthen public safety and enhance the protection of the citizens and visitors to Boston. Finally, we would like to remind everyone that fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts.”
Residents are encouraged to visit boston.gov/summer for the latest event information on schedules, transportation resources, and operational updates, as well as heat, water, and air quality guidance throughout the season. Residents can also contact 311 with questions, concerns, or requests for City services.
Sign up for AlertBoston to receive emergency notifications from the City at boston.gov/alerts. Alerts are available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Cape Verdean Creole, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Additional information about summer events and City operations will be shared throughout the season as Boston prepares to welcome visitors from around the world.
Parabilis Medicines啟動上市計劃 估計集資4.5億美元
（Boston Orange編譯）美國麻州癌症療法公司 Parabilis Medicines（Parabilis）正式啟動首次公開募股（IPO），預計以每股 17 至 19 美元發售 2,500 萬股，若以中位數計算將集資 4.5 億美元，並於納斯達克（Nasdaq）掛牌上市，股票代號為「PBLS」。
本次 IPO 的運作機制包含 concurrent 私募與超額配售。合作夥伴再生元製藥（Regeneron Pharmaceuticals）將同步認購 7,500 萬美元股份。利林克合夥人（Leerink Partners）、美銀證券（BofA Securities）、永核心（Evercore ISI）、古根漢證券（Guggenheim Securities）與生命科學資本（LifeSci Capital）等承銷商，則享有 375 萬股的超額配售權。
這家抗癌企業累計獲得星火創投（Arch Venture Partners）、鸕鶿資產管理（Cormorant Asset Management）、富達投資（Fidelity Investments）、谷歌創投（GV）與 RA 資本（RA Capital）注資逾 8 億美元。公司總部位於劍橋（Cambridge）橡子公園大道 30 號（30 Acorn Park Drive），承租 12.2 萬平方英尺空間，旗下有 145 名全職員工與 31 位全職顧問。
該公司今年已宣佈獲 3.05 億美元新資金。
這起上市案讓它成為 2026 年麻州第八家走向大眾市場的生技企業，緊隨海港治療（Seaport Therapeutics）、赫馬治療（Hemab Therapeutics）、阿瓦林製藥（Avalyn Pharma）、珍芮生技（Generate Biomedicines Inc.）、阿克蒂斯腫瘤學（Aktis Oncology Inc.）、凱萊拉治療（Kailera Therapeutics）及奧德賽治療（Odyssey Therapeutics）的步伐，扭轉了 2025 年麻州僅兩家生技公司上市的低迷市況。
麻州政府慶祝加勒比裔美國人傳統月和麻州-加勒比夥伴關係備忘錄
Legislature Approves Major Transportation and Infrastructure Package to Support Municipal Roads, Transit, and Housing
Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces School Meals Terrific Tray Winner
Announcement comes on the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program
EVERETT – On the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is highlighting the work of Northampton Public Schools and other school districts that offer outstanding nutritious, locally-sourced free school meals with the help of federal and state support.Northampton is the winner of the 2026 Terrific Tray of the Year award for its school lunch tray featuring the new field fritter developed by Commonwealth Kitchen with peas grown in Maine, accompanied by carrots grown in Hadley, apples from New York, lettuce from Shirley, and tzatziki and allergen-free hummus.
"Congratulations to Northampton Public Schools on being named this year's Terrific Tray of the Year winner and thank you to all of the school nutrition professionals across Massachusetts who work every day to keep students healthy and ready to learn," said Governor Maura Healey. "Massachusetts is proud to have made universal free school meals permanent in our state, which helps students succeed in the classroom and also creates opportunities for local farmers. This recognition highlights the incredible partnerships that make nutritious, locally sourced meals possible for children across our state."
"School meals do so much more than feed students. They connect children to local farms, introduce them to new foods, and help build healthy habits that can last a lifetime," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "Congratulations to Northampton and all of this year's Terrific Tray winners for showing what is possible when schools, farmers, and communities work together."
Governor Healey and the state legislature made universal free school meals permanent in 2023. Since then, schools have seen increased meal participation and reduced stigma around school meals. Greater financial stability has allowed schools to use fresher foods and get creative with their menus.
In addition, DESE and Massachusetts Farm to School launched the Northeast Food for Schools Challenge, a statewide initiative that encourages schools to buy more regionally produced food and to participate in a new local food purchase tracking effort to track local food origins and enhance transparency of where school meal ingredients come from.
This school year, approximately 588,000 students ate lunch and 292,000 ate breakfast every day across the state. Over 12 million lunches and six million breakfasts were served each month.
“I want to thank all school nutrition teams across the state for their commitment to serving healthy lunches and breakfasts —which contributes to students’ readiness to learn. Congratulations to Northampton and the nutrition teams at all of this year’s Terrific Tray honorees,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Boston was one of the first cities to offer school meals in the early 1900s and Massachusetts is now one of several states that ended school meal debt and made universal school meals permanent. On the 80th anniversary of the National School Meals program, we want to lift up the critical importance of this program in supporting student food security and wellbeing.”
“Our school nutrition professionals have an important role in keeping our students ready for learning,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “I’m impressed by the wide range of ingredients and meals that reflect local growers and local communities.”
Sponsored by DESE’s Office for Food and Nutrition Programs and Massachusetts Farm to School, the Terrific Tray competition invites school nutrition programs to submit a photo of visually appealing, culturally relevant menus that include foods sourced from regional farms, dairies and fisheries. Each month’s winner receives $2,500 from the Henry P. Kendall Foundation to reinvest in their school nutrition program and is featured on social media. The public votes on a winner from among the monthly honorees.
Members of Northampton’s school food service program, Freshampton, were presented with the Terrific Tray award at the statewide Healthy Kids, Healthy Programs Summit last month.
“The Terrific Trays initiative represents the power of partnerships between farms, schools, and food system members,” said Ashley Randle, commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. “Students gain access to meals prepared with healthy, nutritious, and locally grown ingredients, produced by the state’s hard-working farmers and Commonwealth Kitchen provides the infrastructure and creativity to turn these ingredients into flavorful and exciting dishes for them to enjoy. Congratulations to the team at Northampton Public Schools and thank you for your commitment to sourcing local!”
"A huge congratulations to our incredible Freshampton team led by Mistelle Hannah," said Dr. Portia S. Bonner, superintendent of Northampton Public Schools. "The team's dedication to the Terrific Trays initiative ensures that healthy, locally sourced, and completely free school meals aren't just a district goal—they’re a daily reality for our students. We remain committed to nourishing our community’s future, one fresh, delicious tray at a time."
“Northampton Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of farm to school efforts across the Commonwealth,” said Lisa Damon, co-director of Massachusetts Farm to School. They are sourcing local foods, maintaining extensive school gardens, hosting regular taste tests in the cafeterias, and connecting students to where their food comes from through farm field trips. From the cafeteria to the classroom to the community, they have built something truly special, and we are thrilled to shine a light on their remarkable work.”
Today is the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Program, which was established under the National School Lunch Act that President Harry Truman signed in 1946. More information about the anniversary is available through the School Nutrition Association.
Senate Votes to Ban Cancer-Linked Chemical from IV Bags in Massachusetts
Senate Passes Bill to Give 6,500+ Teachers a Second Chance at Enhanced Retirement Benefits
Senate Passes Bill to Give 6,500+ Teachers a Second Chance at Enhanced Retirement Benefits