1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3104 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1128
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marjorie C. Decker and Jeffrey N. Roy
_________________
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 preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex1/16/2025Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol2/5/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/7/2025Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth2/10/2025Rob Consalvo14th Suffolk2/20/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025Christopher J. Worrell5th Suffolk3/11/2025Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex3/11/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3104 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1128
By Representatives Decker of Cambridge and Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 1128) of Marjorie C. Decker, Carole A. Fiola and others relative to access to
treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. Financial Services.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 176O of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby
2amended by inserting therein the following new definition: -
3 “Serious mental illness,” any of the following conditions, as defined by the most recent
4edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
5 (1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
6 (2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
7 (3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
8 (4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
9 (5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
10 (6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive. 2 of 3
11 (7) Schizophrenia.
12 (8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
13 SECTION 2. Section 12A of said Chapter 176O is hereby further amended by inserting
14after subsection (g) the following new subsection:-
15 (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a carrier or utilization review
16organization shall not, with respect to a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for
17the treatment of serious mental illness, impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy
18protocol, or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.
19 SECTION 3. Section 8 of Chapter 118E of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby
20amended by inserting therein the following new definition: -
21 i½. “Serious mental illness”, any of the following conditions, as defined by the most
22recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
23 (1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
24 (2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
25 (3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
26 (4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
27 (5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
28 (6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive.
29 (7) Schizophrenia. 3 of 3
30 (8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
31 SECTION 4. Section 51A of said chapter 118E is hereby further amended by inserting
32after subsection (f) the following new subsection: -
33 (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the division or an entity with which the
34division contracts to provide or manage health insurance benefits shall not, with respect to a drug
35approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious mental illness,
36impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy protocol, or any other protocol that could
37restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.