Bill > S107

This bill aims to address the issue of "child ED boarding", which refers to children and adolescents waiting for extended periods to receive appropriate behavioral health services. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and maintain an online portal that provides real-time data on children and adolescents who are boarding, awaiting residential disposition, or are in the care or custody of a state agency and awaiting discharge. 2. Mandating the Health Policy Commission to review the data on the online portal and publish a pediatric behavioral health planning report every 5 years to analyze the availability of pediatric behavioral health services and workforce capacity. 3. Establishing a Complex Case Resolution Panel within the Office of the Child Advocate to review and resolve administrative, financial, or clinical barriers to accessing services for children with complex behavioral health needs. 4. Requiring acute-care hospitals to provide or arrange for qualified behavioral health clinicians to evaluate and stabilize individuals admitted with a behavioral health presentation. 5. Developing an expedited psychiatric inpatient admissions protocol that includes specific requirements for patients under the age of 22. The bill sets deadlines for the implementation of these provisions, aiming to improve the coordination and availability of behavioral health services for children and adolescents in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S107