Bill > S1404

This bill aims to improve behavioral health services for MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) recipients by requiring the state division to ensure equal access to behavioral health services across various healthcare organizations. Specifically, the bill mandates that all contracted accountable care organizations, health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, and behavioral health management firms must provide comparable quality behavioral health services and medications. The division must obtain approval from the secretary of health and human services for all behavioral health services, including policies, protocols, standards, and utilization management criteria. Additionally, these contracted organizations must submit an annual report detailing their method of determining reimbursement levels for inpatient mental health and substance use providers, including the range of payment amounts and how these payments are updated. The report must be submitted within 90 days of the act's effective date to several key legislative committees, with the goal of ensuring transparent and adequate funding for mental health and substance use treatment providers in the MassHealth system.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1404