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
6 ideas
2024–25: 2 · 2025–26: 4 · 2026–27: 0 (of 81 in this theme)
- Community pharmacy in pharmacy desertsSponsor a public-private partnership to open a community pharmacy in areas without one, since vulnerable residents face over an hour of transit to reach a pharmacy.2025–26DorchesterSubmitted in Spanish
- Reopen Carney with pediatric urgent careResident asks to reopen the Carney with an emergency or urgent care unit equipped for sick and injured children, since nearby pediatric emergency departments are overcrowded.2025–26Dorchester
- Holistic wellness center in Black and brown communitiesThe resident asks for a wellness center offering free or affordable yoga, safe movement, nutrition and more in Black and brown communities.2025–26Dorchester
- Reopen community clinics to cut wait timesResident asks to reestablish more community clinics because waits of about three months for a doctor harm people's health.2025–26Dorchester
- Mobile health clinics in Dorchester and BrightonResident asks for funding of mobile health clinics in Dorchester and Brighton to fill the gap left by hospital closures and improve care for underserved residents.2024–25Dorchester
- Renovate Veteran Center at Harvard Street Health CenterRenovate or rebuild the dilapidated Veteran Outreach Center at 895 Blue Hill Ave, Dorchester, to give veterans, behavioral health patients and other residents a dignified, healthy facility for services.2024–25Dorchester