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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 520 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1996
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Michael P. Kushmerek and Sally P. Kerans
_________________
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 establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael P. Kushmerek3rd Worcester1/13/2023Sally P. Kerans13th Essex1/13/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/31/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/1/2023Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth2/1/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/2/2023Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/3/2023 1 of 6
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 520 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1996
By Representatives Kushmerek of Fitchburg and Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 1996) of Michael P. Kushmerek, Sally P. Kerans and others for legislation to
establish a program to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders of
certain pregnant and postpartum individuals. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4741 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program.
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 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 16CC the
2following section:-
3 Section 16DD. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
4requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
5 “Culturally congruent care”, care that is in agreement with the preferred cultural values,
6beliefs, worldview, language and practices of the health care consumer.
7 “Eligible entity”, a: (1) community-based organization serving pregnant and postpartum
8individuals, including organizations serving individuals from medically underserved populations 2 of 6
9and other underserved populations; (2) non-profit or patient advocacy organization with
10expertise in maternal mental and behavioral health; (3) maternity care provider; (4) mental or
11behavioral health care provider who treats maternal mental health conditions or substance use
12disorders; (5) public health agencies, including the department of public health or a local public
13health department; or (6) federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization.
14 “Freestanding birth center”, a health facility: (1) that is not a hospital; (2) where
15childbirth is planned to occur away from the pregnant woman's residence; (3) that is licensed or
16otherwise approved by the commonwealth to provide prenatal labor and delivery or postpartum
17care; and (4) that complies with other requirements established by the commonwealth relating to
18the health and safety of individuals provided services by the facility.
19 “Maternity care provider”, a health care provider who: (1) is a physician, physician
20assistant, certified nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist; and (2) has a
21focus on maternal or perinatal health.
22 “Medically underserved populations”, federally designated populations that have too few
23primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or high elderly population.
24 “Mental or behavioral health care provider”, a health care provider in the field of mental
25or behavioral health, including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with the laws of the
26commonwealth.
27 “Secretary”, the secretary of health and human services. 3 of 6
28 (b) The secretary of health and human services shall establish a program to award grants
29to eligible entities to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders with
30respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus medically underserved populations.
31 (c) To receive a grant under this section an eligible entity shall submit to the secretary an
32application at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the secretary may
33require, including how the entity will use funds for activities described in subsection (e) that are
34culturally congruent.
35 (d) In awarding grants under this section, the secretary shall give priority to an eligible
36entity that:
37 (1) is partnering, or will partner, with a community-based organization to address
38maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders described in subsection (a); and
39 (2) is operating in an area with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes or
40significant racial or ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.
41 (e) An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds for the
42following:
43 (1) establishing or expanding maternity care programs to improve the integration of
44maternal mental health and behavioral health care services into primary care settings where
45pregnant individuals regularly receive health care services;
46 (2) establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs or postpartum care programs; 4 of 6
47 (3) expanding existing programs that improve maternal mental health and behavioral
48health during the prenatal and postpartum periods, with a focus on individuals from medically
49underserved populations;
50 (4) providing services and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals with maternal
51mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including referrals to addiction treatment
52centers that offer evidence-based treatment options;
53 (5) addressing stigma associated with maternal mental health conditions and substance
54use disorders, with a focus on medically underserved populations;
55 (6) raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental health conditions and
56substance use disorders, with a focus on pregnant and postpartum individuals from medically
57underserved populations;
58 (7) establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide or self-harm among pregnant
59and postpartum individuals, including, but not limited to, the moms do care program
60administered by the bureau of substance addiction services in the department and the
61Massachusetts child psychiatry access program;
62 (8) offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding birth centers that provide maternal
63mental and behavioral health care education, treatments, and services, and other services for
64individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum period;
65 (9) establishing or expanding programs to provide education and training to maternity
66care providers with respect to identifying potential warning signs for maternal mental health
67conditions or substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus on 5 of 6
68individuals from medically underserved populations. In the case where such providers identify
69such warning signs, offering referrals to mental or behavioral health care professionals;
70 (10) developing a website, or other method of publication, that includes information on
71health care providers who treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders;
72 (11) establishing or expanding programs in communities to improve coordination
73between maternity care providers and maternal mental or behavioral health care providers who
74treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including through the use of
75toll-free hotlines; and
76 (12) carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-based practices for addressing
77maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and postpartum
78individuals, with a focus on medically underserved populations.
79 (f) An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit annually to the
80secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the activities conducted using funds received
81through a grant under this section. Such reports shall include quantitative and qualitative
82evaluations of such activities, including the experience of individuals who received health care
83through such grant.
84 (g) Not later than the end of each fiscal year that grants are awarded, the secretary shall
85submit to the governor and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a report that
86includes:
87 (1) a summary of the reports received under subsection (f);
88 (2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants awarded under this section; 6 of 6
89 (3) recommendations with respect to expanding coverage of evidence-based screenings
90and treatments for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders; and
91 (4) recommendations with respect to ensuring activities described under subsection (e)
92continue after the end of a grant period.