Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1976 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4075 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1976
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for
13	13	sufficient privacy..
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Vincent L. Dixon60 Lake St. Unit N Winchester
17	17	Massachusetts 01890
18	18	1/20/2023 1 of 2
19	19	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4075 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
20	20	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1976
21	21	By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
22	22	1976) of Vincent L. Dixon for legislation to improve the quality of mental health services and
23	23	rights of patients by providing for sufficient privacy. Mental Health, Substance Use and
24	24	Recovery.
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
28	28	(2023-2024)
29	29	_______________
30	30	An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for
31	31	sufficient privacy..
32	32	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
33	33	of the same, as follows:
34	34	1 SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
35	35	2following new chapter:
36	36	3 1.) An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by
37	37	4providing for sufficient privacy.
38	38	5 2.) All individuals, who present themselves, for mental health services, and/or are
39	39	6admitted for such services, and/or assessment, shall be entitled to a specific private intake room,
40	40	7or physical space, where only they, medical staff, and relevant security, may hear any intake,
41	41	8and/or treatment conversations. 2 of 2
42	42	9 3.) These provisions, may not be waivered, except in extreme emergency circumstances;
43	43	10which shall be specifically noted, and recorded in a medical record, and the reasons therefore, by
44	44	11responsible medical, and intake staff.
45	45	12 4.) In the context, of significant, and substantial reductions in funding, for various
46	46	13medical services, including mental health services, it has occurred that patients being seen for
47	47	14intake, and/or treatment, have been seen in open wards, and/or emergency general settings,
48	48	15without privacy. This can have various effects, in denying privacy, diminishing the provision of
49	49	16needed information between medical staff, and actual or potential patients, compromising
50	50	17important treatment discussions; and/or discouraging various forms of intake, by individuals,
51	51	18who are concerned about risks of disclosure.
52	52	19 5.) It is in the interests of public policy, that such inherent violations, of needed
53	53	20confidentiality, be reduced, and/or eliminated to the extent possible, by various measures.
54	54	21 6.) The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and its Public Health Council
55	55	22(PHC), are hereby authorized to develop, establish, and enforce the needed regulations, to carry
56	56	23out the intent of this legislation.