Bill > H2391

This bill aims to strengthen the integration of behavioral health services. It includes several key provisions: 1. It requires the development of quality standards and performance benchmarks for hospitals to receive rate increases, including measures to address racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. 2. It mandates that insurers, health plans, and Medicaid providers conduct searches for available inpatient mental health and substance abuse placements if a patient remains in the emergency department after a decision to admit them. It also requires these payers to cover out-of-network services and increase reimbursement rates if appropriate in-network placements are unavailable. 3. It requires coverage and reimbursement for behavioral health screenings by primary care providers for children up to age 21 and postpartum parents. 4. It establishes a Massachusetts Interagency Council on Behavioral Health Integration to review regulatory and payment barriers to integrating behavioral and physical healthcare. 5. It directs the Health Policy Commission to issue a report on the effects of payers using behavioral health management firms. The overall goal is to improve access, coordination, and quality of behavioral health services across the healthcare system.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2391