Tobacco-Free Hospitals


Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the US, and hospitals are in a unique position to serve as role models on this vital public health issue. The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association is proud to take a leadership role in an effort to ensure hospitals and healthcare organizations go tobacco free, even declining to hire tobacco users.


As stewards of the public's health, hospitals are well positioned to become leaders in the tobacco-free endeavor. MHA’s Tobacco-Free Hospitals initiative is designed to encourage and support Bay State hospitals' voluntary effort to become tobacco-free and ban use of all tobacco products anywhere on the hospital campus.

Visit the pages below for comprehensive information on MHA’s tobacco-free hospitals initiative. 

11.25.2019  | 3 Bills –Kid’s Health, Tobacco, Safe Driving – Await Gov’s Signature
Three bills that MHA and its membership have endorsed throughout their journey in the State House were passed by the legislature last week.
11.18.2019  | House Takes Bold Step to Outlaw Flavored Tobacco
The Massachusetts House last week passed a landmark bill that imposes a tax on vaping products and outlaws flavored tobaccos.
11.11.2019  | DPH Issues a Reminder: Report Vaping Illnesses
DPH reminds providers that mandatory reporting of possible cases of unexplained e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury remains in effect.
10.28.2019  | Legislature Will Act on MHA-Supported Flavored Tobacco Bills
Two bills scheduled for action next session would permanently ban all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, vaping products, and menthol cigarettes.
09.30.2019  | DPH: Providers Need to Help Those Affected by Vaping Ban
On September 24, Governor Charlie Baker declared a public health emergency due to severe lung disease associated with the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products.
09.16.2019  | DPH Mandates Reporting on Vaping Illnesses
Massachusetts Department of Public Health last Wednesday mandated that all healthcare providers report all diagnosed or suspected cases of unexplained vaping-associated pulmonary disease to DPH.
07.01.2019  | MHA Supports Bill to Curb Youth Smoking “Epidemic”
The impressive gains in curbing youth smoking in the U.S. has hit a roadblock, with the recent uptake in tobacco use among kids being labeled an “epidemic” by both the FDA and the U.S. Surgeon General.
03.04.2019  | AG Slams Door Shut on Online Vaping Merchant
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office last week put a hard stop to an electronic vaping company’s sales in Massachusetts.
11.12.2018  | MHA Safety Summit Set for Tuesday, Dec. 4
Details are quickly coming together for the important MHA 2018 Healthcare Safety Summit at MHA’s Conference Center in Burlington on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
08.20.2018  | Caring for the Caregiver Update
Over the past year, MHA has worked with its members across the commonwealth to address issues of workplace safety and wellbeing.
07.23.2018  | Bill to Raise Tobacco Buying Age to 21 Sent to Governor
The Massachusetts House and Senate reached agreement on minor difference between their bills that will raise the legal age for tobacco use to 21, and have sent the bill to Governor Baker.
07.02.2018  | Senate Votes to Up Legal Age for Tobacco; MHA Agrees
The Massachusetts Senate last Thursday voted 33 to 3 to pass SB 2571, which would raise the legal age for tobacco use from 18 to 21 years.
05.14.2018  | House Bill Sets Strict Limits on Tobacco
The Massachusetts House last week passed a bill by a vote of 146-4 that would raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.
07.25.2017  | HB2466, HB2467 Tobacco and Agencies
HB2466, HB2467 Tobacco and Agencies
10.02.2013  | Resources for Tobacco-Free Policy Implementation
List of resources that will aid in effective implementation of a tobacco-free policy.
10.02.2013  | Tobacco Cessation Resources
Providing cessation support to employees, patients, and visitors is an important step in implementing a tobacco-free policy.
10.02.2013  | Communications Tool Kit
Links to the elements of a tool kit to help make your hospital’s transition to a tobacco-free facility as easy as possible.
10.02.2013  | 7 Steps To Tobacco-Free
Moving to a tobacco-free environment takes planning, time, and incremental implementation.
10.02.2013  | Success Stories
Links to some of Massachusetts success stories in our Tobacco-Free Hospitals initiative.

Resources