Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H1996 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 520 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1996
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael P. Kushmerek and Sally P. Kerans
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 establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	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
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 520 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1996
18	18	By Representatives Kushmerek of Fitchburg and Kerans of Danvers, a petition (accompanied by
19	19	bill, House, No. 1996) of Michael P. Kushmerek, Sally P. Kerans and others for legislation to
20	20	establish a program to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders of
21	21	certain pregnant and postpartum individuals. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 4741 OF 2021-2022.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
27	27	(2023-2024)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 16CC the
33	33	2following section:-
34	34	3 Section 16DD. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
35	35	4requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
36	36	5 “Culturally congruent care”, care that is in agreement with the preferred cultural values,
37	37	6beliefs, worldview, language and practices of the health care consumer.
38	38	7 “Eligible entity”, a: (1) community-based organization serving pregnant and postpartum
39	39	8individuals, including organizations serving individuals from medically underserved populations 2 of 6
40	40	9and other underserved populations; (2) non-profit or patient advocacy organization with
41	41	10expertise in maternal mental and behavioral health; (3) maternity care provider; (4) mental or
42	42	11behavioral health care provider who treats maternal mental health conditions or substance use
43	43	12disorders; (5) public health agencies, including the department of public health or a local public
44	44	13health department; or (6) federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization.
45	45	14 “Freestanding birth center”, a health facility: (1) that is not a hospital; (2) where
46	46	15childbirth is planned to occur away from the pregnant woman's residence; (3) that is licensed or
47	47	16otherwise approved by the commonwealth to provide prenatal labor and delivery or postpartum
48	48	17care; and (4) that complies with other requirements established by the commonwealth relating to
49	49	18the health and safety of individuals provided services by the facility.
50	50	19 “Maternity care provider”, a health care provider who: (1) is a physician, physician
51	51	20assistant, certified nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist; and (2) has a
52	52	21focus on maternal or perinatal health.
53	53	22 “Medically underserved populations”, federally designated populations that have too few
54	54	23primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or high elderly population.
55	55	24 “Mental or behavioral health care provider”, a health care provider in the field of mental
56	56	25or behavioral health, including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with the laws of the
57	57	26commonwealth.
58	58	27 “Secretary”, the secretary of health and human services. 3 of 6
59	59	28 (b) The secretary of health and human services shall establish a program to award grants
60	60	29to eligible entities to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders with
61	61	30respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus medically underserved populations.
62	62	31 (c) To receive a grant under this section an eligible entity shall submit to the secretary an
63	63	32application at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the secretary may
64	64	33require, including how the entity will use funds for activities described in subsection (e) that are
65	65	34culturally congruent.
66	66	35 (d) In awarding grants under this section, the secretary shall give priority to an eligible
67	67	36entity that:
68	68	37 (1) is partnering, or will partner, with a community-based organization to address
69	69	38maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders described in subsection (a); and
70	70	39 (2) is operating in an area with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes or
71	71	40significant racial or ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.
72	72	41 (e) An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use funds for the
73	73	42following:
74	74	43 (1) establishing or expanding maternity care programs to improve the integration of
75	75	44maternal mental health and behavioral health care services into primary care settings where
76	76	45pregnant individuals regularly receive health care services;
77	77	46 (2) establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs or postpartum care programs; 4 of 6
78	78	47 (3) expanding existing programs that improve maternal mental health and behavioral
79	79	48health during the prenatal and postpartum periods, with a focus on individuals from medically
80	80	49underserved populations;
81	81	50 (4) providing services and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals with maternal
82	82	51mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including referrals to addiction treatment
83	83	52centers that offer evidence-based treatment options;
84	84	53 (5) addressing stigma associated with maternal mental health conditions and substance
85	85	54use disorders, with a focus on medically underserved populations;
86	86	55 (6) raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental health conditions and
87	87	56substance use disorders, with a focus on pregnant and postpartum individuals from medically
88	88	57underserved populations;
89	89	58 (7) establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide or self-harm among pregnant
90	90	59and postpartum individuals, including, but not limited to, the moms do care program
91	91	60administered by the bureau of substance addiction services in the department and the
92	92	61Massachusetts child psychiatry access program;
93	93	62 (8) offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding birth centers that provide maternal
94	94	63mental and behavioral health care education, treatments, and services, and other services for
95	95	64individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum period;
96	96	65 (9) establishing or expanding programs to provide education and training to maternity
97	97	66care providers with respect to identifying potential warning signs for maternal mental health
98	98	67conditions or substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus on 5 of 6
99	99	68individuals from medically underserved populations. In the case where such providers identify
100	100	69such warning signs, offering referrals to mental or behavioral health care professionals;
101	101	70 (10) developing a website, or other method of publication, that includes information on
102	102	71health care providers who treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders;
103	103	72 (11) establishing or expanding programs in communities to improve coordination
104	104	73between maternity care providers and maternal mental or behavioral health care providers who
105	105	74treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including through the use of
106	106	75toll-free hotlines; and
107	107	76 (12) carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-based practices for addressing
108	108	77maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and postpartum
109	109	78individuals, with a focus on medically underserved populations.
110	110	79 (f) An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit annually to the
111	111	80secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the activities conducted using funds received
112	112	81through a grant under this section. Such reports shall include quantitative and qualitative
113	113	82evaluations of such activities, including the experience of individuals who received health care
114	114	83through such grant.
115	115	84 (g) Not later than the end of each fiscal year that grants are awarded, the secretary shall
116	116	85submit to the governor and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a report that
117	117	86includes:
118	118	87 (1) a summary of the reports received under subsection (f);
119	119	88 (2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants awarded under this section; 6 of 6
120	120	89 (3) recommendations with respect to expanding coverage of evidence-based screenings
121	121	90and treatments for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders; and
122	122	91 (4) recommendations with respect to ensuring activities described under subsection (e)
123	123	92continue after the end of a grant period.