Health care access
Affordable, nearby medical care and health supplies for residents who face cost or access barriers.
Residents ask for free or low-cost care close to home, including mobile clinics, vision care and CPR/AED training, with growing worries about insurance coverage.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
81 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 27 | 2.2% | 19 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 30 | 2.5% | 18 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 24 | 1.8% | 18 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Free or low-cost local clinics
Residents ask for more free or low-cost clinics and doctors in neighborhoods, especially for uninsured people and areas with long waits or health disparities.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Mobile health units and portable screenings
Residents propose vans, pop-up clinics and portable equipment that bring screenings and care to underserved neighborhoods, schools and community centers.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
CPR and AED training and access
Residents want free community CPR classes, and in 2026-27 also AEDs in public places, so bystanders can respond to emergencies.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Eye exams and glasses
Residents ask for affordable eye care and glasses, including for children, low-income neighborhoods and people with poor vision.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Help with health insurance and costs
Residents ask for help paying for or keeping health insurance, especially for low-income people and immigrants facing coverage loss.
Raised in 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas centered on COVID testing, masks and air purifiers, along with mobile screening vans, needle and sharps services, and CPR classes.
2025–26
Ideas broadened to neighborhood pharmacies, urgent care, mobile eye and dental units, and keeping people enrolled in MassHealth and other coverage amid insurance uncertainty.
2026–27
Many ideas were short or general, while specific asks covered AEDs and CPR, portable screening kits, help with insurance and emergency transport costs, and a free clinic for homeless residents.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include AEDs in public places and a registry of their locations, portable screening kits for community center clinics, help with emergency transport costs, and a free clinic for homeless residents.
Funding so far
No winning project funded by resident vote relates to this theme, so every recurring ask remains unaddressed: free clinics, mobile units, eye care, CPR/AED training and insurance help.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
No winning project has addressed this theme yet.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Public Health Commission
- Age Strong Commission
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Health care access
81 ideas
2024–25: 27 · 2025–26: 30 · 2026–27: 24
- Mini libraries with health resources at beaches and parksThe resident asks for mini library resource points at beaches and parks, like Carson Beach, offering Narcan, Covid tests and multilingual pamphlets on swim lessons and heat safety.2026–27City-wide
- Community registry of AED locationsThe resident asks for an accessible registry of defibrillator locations, working with hospitals and apps, so bystanders can respond to cardiac arrests, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- Community pharmacy or grocery store in RoxburyThe resident asks for a public-private partnership to open a community pharmacy or grocery store in Roxbury, which lost pharmacies and Daily Table.2026–27Roxbury
- Free medical supplies and more free clinicsProvide free medical supplies and add free health clinics so people who cannot afford care can get help.2026–27City-wide
- Community CPR and first aid classesResident proposes community CPR and first aid classes so residents can learn life-saving skills.2026–27City-wide
- Funding for free or low-cost clinicsThe resident asks the city to give hospitals more money to run free clinics offering free or low-cost treatment for people without money.2026–27City-wide
- Help with medical emergency transport costsResident is concerned that the cost of medical transport makes people, especially in low-income areas, hesitant to call for emergency care, and asks for help so no one must choose between care and cost.2026–27City-wide
- Portable diagnostic equipment for neighborhood wellness checkupsResident asks to equip community centers and mobile health units with portable non-invasive diagnostic tools to offer free, low-barrier checkups where medical facilities are limited.2026–27City-wide
- Portable health kits for community center wellness clinicsResident asks to buy portable blood pressure, glucose and biometric screening kits so community centers can host weekly drop-in wellness clinics staffed by nurses or nursing students.2026–27City-wide
- Mobile vision and hearing screening vanResident proposes a city van with vision and hearing testing equipment, staffed with teaching hospital partners, to give free screenings, glasses and hearing help at schools and senior centers.2026–27City-wide
- Invest in children's hospitals for seriously ill kidsThe resident asks Boston to put money into children's hospitals and help for gravely ill children in need.2026–27City-wide
- Free clinic for homeless residentsThe resident asks for a free clinic for Boston's homeless population, for people who cannot afford to go to the hospital.2026–27City-wide
- Safe public water filling stationsThe resident asks for public water filling stations that provide safe drinking water.2026–27City-wide
- Free CPR and AED training in Allston-BrightonResident asks for free CPR and AED training in the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods.2026–27Brighton
- AEDs in public areas and parksResident asks for automated external defibrillators to be placed in public areas, parks and green spaces.2026–27City-wide
- Free multilingual community health talksResident asks for free health talks on nutrition, sleep, chronic disease, dementia prevention, mental health and medication safety, offered in multiple languages and culturally friendly formats.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Nutrition classes from pregnancy to early childhoodResident asks for classes or workshops on nutrition from pregnancy through early childhood, including prenatal, lactation, postpartum and healthy meals, to help families and reduce health risks.2026–27East Boston
- Health insurance for immigrantsResident asks for health insurance coverage to be provided for immigrants.2026–27City-wide
- Eyeglasses for people with poor visionResident asks for glasses to be provided to people who can barely see.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Health insurance help, wellness programs and healthy foodThe resident asks for help with health insurance for people losing coverage, health and wellness programming, healthier food in schools and the community, and a student scholarship fund.2026–27City-wide