Bill > S1399

This bill aims to increase investment in behavioral health care in Massachusetts by establishing a structured approach to monitoring and improving behavioral health expenditures. The legislation introduces new definitions for "aggregate behavioral health baseline expenditures" and "behavioral health expenditure targets," which will require health care entities to increase their behavioral health spending by 30% over baseline levels during an initial three-year period starting in 2028. The bill mandates that the Health Policy Commission hold annual public hearings to examine health care costs, with a specific focus on behavioral health spending trends. Health care entities that fail to meet the behavioral health expenditure targets may be required to develop and implement performance improvement plans, which could include strategies to expand access to behavioral health services, invest in behavioral health resources, and address underlying factors limiting such investments. Additionally, the bill establishes a special 21-member task force to develop guiding principles and practice specifications to help health care entities meet their behavioral health expenditure targets, with recommendations covering areas such as person-centered care, early intervention, integrated care models, and community-based services. The legislation also requires the Center for Health Information and Analysis to publish annual reports tracking behavioral health expenditure trends and provide detailed information to help monitor progress toward the established targets.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1399