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
- Free CPR classes at community centers and librariesResident asks for free CPR classes offered in community centers or libraries.2024–25City-wide
- More doctors and street medical tents for the uninsuredResident asks for more doctors, closer appointments, and street tents with medical tools for people without insurance or money, so care is equal for all.2024–25City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Health center with childcare and free foodThe resident proposes a health care center that offers on-site daycare for parents who can't leave children at home and also gives away food.2024–25City-wide
- Sexual health education organizations for young peopleThe resident says many young people are not informed about the consequences of sex and sexually transmitted diseases and asks for organizations to inform and educate them.2024–25City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Breast cancer education and mammogram vansRequests breast cancer education and mobile mammogram vans, especially for women and men of color, to promote early detection as cases increase.2024–25City-wide
- Neighborhood health fairs in city parksResident suggests spending funds on health fairs in city parks giving away COVID tests, hygiene products and supplies, with free COVID and flu shots and health center tables.2024–25Charlestown
- BPS and health center partnership for children's vision careResident asks for a partnership between Boston Public Schools and health centers to provide eye exams and glasses, since many children fail screenings, wait months for exams, and lack help navigating care.2024–25City-wide
- CPR and emergency skills classes citywideTeach CPR and emergency management skills through classes across the city so residents can help in life-saving situations.2024–25City-wide
- Breast cancer screening mobile vanProvide a mobile van with 24-hour resources for breast cancer detection to catch it early and extend lives.2024–25Mattapan
- Self-love wellness spa centerCreate a wellness spa center that offers affordable, culturally sensitive wellness services to remove financial barriers to well-being.2024–25City-wide
- Health care and doctorsProvide more health care and doctors; the idea gives no further detail.2024–25City-wide
- 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
- Restore needle exchange at Nubian and BMCResident asks to restore needle exchange services at Nubian Station, Boston Medical Center and downtown to connect people to treatment and keep streets free of used needles.2024–25Roxbury
- Needle and sharps drop-off in Allston-BrightonResident asks for one or two sharps drop-off sites in Allston-Brighton, the only neighborhood without one, so used needles are disposed of safely.2024–25Brighton
- Restore PCR testing and free at-home tests at librariesResident asks to bring back free PCR COVID-19 testing and fund libraries to always have free at-home tests, to limit spread among low-income people of color.2024–25City-wide
- COVID tracking, masks and air purifiersResident asks for COVID resources to help people track illness, stay masked and clean indoor air with purifiers, protecting Black and brown residents with less medical access.2024–25City-wide
- Free citywide PCR testing and library rapid testsResident asks for free citywide PCR COVID-19 testing, possibly flu testing, and free rapid tests at libraries because tests are costly and the virus hits low-income communities hardest.2024–25City-wide
- Free face mask dispensersResident asks for free dispensers of quality masks and respirators to reduce airborne illness spread among communities with less access to protective equipment.2024–25City-wide
- Support local clinics with better medical equipmentResident wants to help local clinics and hospitals improve medical equipment and services, and ensure care is accessible and affordable for everyone.2024–25City-wide
- 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