Bill > S2211

This bill establishes a voluntary "certified training program" for medical and related professionals, building upon an existing program called "Operation House Call" developed by The Arc of Massachusetts. The "certified training program," accredited by the department of public health, will focus on best practices for treating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders. This training will be offered to students in medical schools, nursing schools, dental schools, and other institutions that train medical practitioners, such as physician assistants and therapists. The program will include at least six hours of instruction through various methods like classroom learning, hands-on experience, and online modules. Schools will be certified if they successfully deliver the program to a sufficient number of students and meet the established standards. The department will also periodically evaluate the training's quality and maintain an annually updated public list of certified schools.