Bill > H2226

This bill establishes a special commission to conduct a comprehensive study on substance use disorder (SUD) care services across Massachusetts. The commission will investigate the current regional availability of various treatment services, including detoxification, clinical stabilization, transitional support, residential recovery, and outpatient treatment. Members will identify systemic barriers that individuals face when seeking treatment, such as challenges related to mental health, funding, treatment costs, program availability, transportation, accessibility, and housing. The commission will also assess the need for regional continuum of care facilities and determine optimal treatment capacity at each care level. The commission will be diverse, including legislative members, state agency representatives (such as the Attorney General, MassHealth, and Departments of Public Health and Mental Health), and representatives from addiction recovery organizations. Within one year of establishment, the commission must submit a detailed report with its findings, recommendations, and draft legislation to the Senate, House of Representatives, the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, and the Governor, and will continue to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2226