MA H1734

Bill

MA H1734

Removing administrative barriers to behavioral health services

Introduced
01/22/2019

In Committee
01/22/2019

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

191st General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to prior authorization requirements for inpatient mental health services within the MassHealth program. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

AI Summary

This bill aims to remove administrative barriers to accessing inpatient mental health services within the MassHealth program. The key provisions are: 1) it prohibits MassHealth and its contracted insurance providers from requiring preauthorization or prior authorization before obtaining medically necessary inpatient psychiatric care, 2) it requires the healthcare facility to notify MassHealth of the admission within 48 hours, and 3) it allows for utilization review procedures to be initiated after 48 hours of admission. The bill also clarifies that behavioral health screenings conducted by Emergency Service Program teams are not considered a preauthorization requirement. Overall, the goal is to streamline the process for accessing inpatient mental health services for MassHealth members.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (15)

Michael Day (D), Nika Elugardo (D), Jim Hawkins (D), Stephen Hay (D), Natalie Higgins (D), John Keenan (D), Kay Khan (D), David LeBoeuf (D), David Linsky (D), Elizabeth Malia (D), Mike Moore (D), José Tosado (D), Dean Tran (R), Susannah Whipps (I), Jon Zlotnik (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H5100 (on 11/23/2020)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1734

(6 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1734
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1734.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1161	To protect MassHealth applicants facing undue hardship	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means	Similar To
H5100	Study Order	Discharged to the committee on House Rules	Replaced by
S50	Relative to personal care attendant services	Ought NOT to pass (under Joint Rule 10) and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session	Similar To
S661	Relative to MassHealth rates	Ought NOT to pass (under Joint Rule 10) and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session	Similar To
S698	To promote graduate medical education	Ought NOT to pass (under Joint Rule 10) and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session	Similar To
S730	To require equitable access to behavioral health services for MassHealth consumers	Ought NOT to pass (under Joint Rule 10) and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session	Similar To

Bill > H1734

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (15)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary