Bill > S2519

This bill aims to address barriers to mental health care in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: - Requiring the state to collect and report on behavioral health expenditures and costs, to improve transparency. - Expanding the membership and oversight of the Board of Registration of Social Workers to better represent underserved populations. - Requiring insurance carriers to comply with federal mental health parity laws, including conducting regular market conduct examinations and imposing penalties for violations. - Mandating insurance coverage for medically necessary mental health acute treatment, community-based acute treatment, and intensive community-based acute treatment, without prior authorization. - Establishing a pilot program to encourage a culturally and linguistically diverse behavioral health workforce. - Directing the state to study the availability of culturally competent behavioral health providers and make recommendations to improve access and quality of care. - Requiring the state's Medicaid program to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatments in compliance with federal parity laws. The bill aims to expand access to mental health services, improve provider networks, and increase transparency and accountability around insurance coverage for behavioral health.

Senate Committee on Ways and Means (S)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S2519