Bill > H377

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for group therapeutic care services in Massachusetts by creating a new Board of Certification for Group Therapeutic Specialists. The board will consist of 12 members appointed from various backgrounds, including public health officials, mental health professionals, community representatives, and individuals with lived mental health experience. The board will develop certification standards for group therapeutic specialists, including education requirements, training programs, and continuing education guidelines. Additionally, the bill requires the Division of Medical Assistance to provide coverage for group therapeutic care services through MassHealth and establish a pilot program to promote and evaluate group therapeutic behavioral health care, focusing on regions with limited access to behavioral health services. The Health Policy Commission will also conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the potential systemic outcomes, demand, and cost-savings of integrating group therapeutic care into the state's behavioral health system, with a report due by December 1, 2026. The goal of the bill is to improve access to mental health services, particularly for underserved communities, by creating a structured approach to group therapeutic care and certification of specialists.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H377