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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4058 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2195
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)
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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 improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for
sufficient privacy.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Vincent Lawrence Dixon60 Lake Street Unit N, Winchester, MA
01890
1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4058 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2195
By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2195) of Vincent Lawrence Dixon for legislation to improve the quality of mental health services
and rights of patients by providing for sufficient privacy. Mental Health, Substance Use and
Recovery.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1976 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for
sufficient privacy.
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. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the
2following new chapter:
3 1.) An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by
4providing for sufficient privacy.
5 2.) All individuals, who present themselves, for mental health services, and/or are
6admitted for such services, and/or assessment, shall be entitled to a specific private intake room,
7or physical space, where only they, medical staff, and relevant security, may hear any intake,
8and/or treatment conversations. 2 of 2
9 3.) These provisions, may not be waivered, except in extreme emergency circumstances;
10which shall be specifically noted, and recorded in a medical record, and the reasons therefore, by
11responsible medical, and intake staff.
12 4.) In the context, of significant, and substantial reductions in funding, for various
13medical services, including mental health services, it has occurred that patients being seen for
14intake, and/or treatment, have been seen in open wards, and/or emergency general settings,
15without privacy. This can have various effects, in denying privacy, diminishing the provision of
16needed information between medical staff, and actual or potential patients, compromising
17important treatment discussions; and/or discouraging various forms of intake, by individuals,
18who are concerned about risks of disclosure.
19 5.) It is in the interests of public policy, that such inherent violations, of needed
20confidentiality, be reduced, and/or eliminated to the extent possible, by various measures.
21 6.) The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and its Public Health Council
22(PHC), are hereby authorized to develop, establish, and enforce the needed regulations, to carry
23out the intent of this legislation.