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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 502 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1977
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to identify and eliminate racial and sexual orientation and gender identity disparities in
mental health.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/10/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/20/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 502 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1977
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1977) of
Marjorie C. Decker and Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to reporting requirements to identify and
eliminate racial and sexual orientation and gender identity disparities in mental health. Mental
Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2082 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act to identify and eliminate racial and sexual orientation and gender identity disparities in
mental health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 6D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section: —
3 Section 20. (a) The commission shall issue an annual report that shall include data
4designed to assist in identifying and eliminating disparities in behavioral health treatment. The
5report shall examine the prevalence of behavioral health and substance use disorders and suicide
6among different populations of individuals in the commonwealth, such populations’ access to
7services and evidence-based treatments, the availability of information to various populations
8regarding access to treatment, the level of diversity in the behavioral health workforce, and
9payment systems or methodologies for behavioral health treatments. The report shall examine 2 of 3
10differences in the prevalence of mental illness, substance use disorders and suicide between
11various groups based on (i) race and ethnicity; (ii) sexual orientation and gender identity; (iii)
12income levels; (iv) age; (v) place of residence; (vi) homelessness; (vii) disability; (viii) primary
13language; and (ix) incarceration status. The commission shall investigate and study the
14accessibility of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in the commonwealth,
15including but not limited to: (i) the geographic distribution and availability to various
16populations described in this section of inpatient and outpatient, emergency, and hospital
17diversionary behavioral health and substance use disorder services; (ii) how such diversionary
18behavioral health and substance use disorder services are reimbursed; and (iii) the adequacy of
19the geographic distribution of such services to address the needs of the different populations
20described in this section. The report shall also address the use, availability and reimbursement of
21evidence-based practices among different communities and populations. Evidence-based
22practices shall include collaborative or integrated care, the program for assertive community
23treatment, early psychosis programs, comprehensive trauma services, medication-assisted
24treatment for addictions and dual recovery crisis intervention.
25 (b) The report shall include a review of the behavioral health and substance use disorder
26workforce in the commonwealth. The review shall address : (i) the demographic makeup of such
27workforce; (ii) existing workforce pipelines, incentives and training and the adequacy of such
28pipelines to support the development of a culturally diverse and competent workforce; (iii)
29workforce models to address social determinants of health including but not limited to the use of
30community health workers, recovery coaches, healthcare navigators, and care coordinators; (iv)
31methods of reimbursement that will support services and decrease workforce turnover; and (v)
32adequacy of health care insurance payments. 3 of 3
33 (c) The report shall examine: (i) the respective roles of the department of mental health
34and the department of public health in monitoring mental health disparities and providing for
35intervention; (ii) methods and funding mechanisms available to address primary, secondary, and
36tertiary prevention of mental health conditions; (iii) the role of the criminal justice system in
37diverting those with mental illness and substance use disorder from jails and prisons; (iv) the
38availability of jail diversion programs in different regions of commonwealth; (v) the adequacy of
39existing civil commitment and guardianship laws support mental health and addiction recovery
40in an equitable and trauma-informed manner; and (vi) and the demographic makeup of
41incarcerated individuals in the commonwealth.
42 (d) The commission shall issue and provide such report, on or before July 1 of each year,
43to the secretary of health and human services, the commissioner of public health, the
44commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of insurance, the attorney general, the senate
45president, the speaker of the house, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the
46chairs of the joint committees on health care financing, public health, and mental health,
47substance use and recovery.