Bill > H1075

This bill aims to ensure that support groups are part of the pathway of care following the annual mental health wellness exam. The key provisions are: 1. The Department of Mental Health must compile and update annually a list of appropriate resources for mental health treatment, which must be distributed to individuals at the time of the mental health wellness examination in both paper and electronic formats. 2. If a patient receives a mental health diagnosis from the annual exam, the provider must provide a referral for the patient to seek follow-up care, such as individualized therapy or an evidence-based support group, within six weeks. 3. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services must annually assess the behavioral healthcare workforce and resources available for treatment referrals, analyze the number of referrals made and successfully accessed, and submit a report to the legislature. 4. The state must build upon the network of community behavioral health centers and establish, subject to appropriation, a network of evidence-based support groups to increase access to behavioral healthcare services following referrals from the annual mental health wellness examination.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1075