Bill > H2084

This bill aims to create a thriving public health response for adolescents. The key provisions include: - Establishing an advisory council on school-based behavioral health to advise on issues of promotion, prevention, and intervention services in school districts. The council would include representatives from various state agencies and stakeholder organizations. - Requiring the development of a statewide, regionalized program to provide consultation, coaching, and technical assistance to school districts on implementing a multi-tiered system of behavioral health support. - Prohibiting or severely limiting the use of suspension and expulsion in early education and care programs, with standards and requirements to support children's social, emotional, and behavioral development. - Requiring acute-care hospitals to provide or arrange for qualified behavioral health clinicians to evaluate and stabilize persons admitted with a behavioral health presentation in the emergency department. - Establishing an expedited psychiatric inpatient admissions protocol for patients under 22 years old. - Developing a streamlined process to enhance the community-based behavioral health screening and authorization for inpatient services for Medicaid patients under 18. - Incorporating mental health education into the curriculum in public schools. - Expanding Medicaid coverage for treatment, diagnostic evaluations, assessment, and services provided by licensed psychologists for children and adolescents. The bill aims to improve access, coordination, and integration of behavioral health services for adolescents in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H2084