1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 662 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 703
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John J. Cronin
_________________
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 improving access to community behavioral health centers.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John J. CroninWorcester and MiddlesexJason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/12/2025Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/27/2025John F. KeenanNorfolk and Plymouth2/27/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/27/2025Nick CollinsFirst Suffolk3/5/2025 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 662 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 703
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 703) of John J. Cronin, Jason M.
Lewis, Michael O. Moore, John F. Keenan and other members of the Senate for legislation
relative to community behavioral health centers. Financial Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 613 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act improving access to community behavioral health centers.
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. Chapter 32A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following new section:-
3 Section 31. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
4following meanings:
5 “Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral
6health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care
7coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or
8substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter. 2 of 5
9 “Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public
10health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
11 (b) Any health plan offered by the commission shall provide to an active or retired
12employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission benefits
13on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services
14delivered through community behavioral health centers.
15 SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is
16hereby amended by inserting after section 47PP the following new section:-
17 Section 47QQ. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
18following meanings:
19 “Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral
20health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care
21coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or
22substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
23 “Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public
24health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
25 (b) Any individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section
26108, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, and a group blanket or
27general policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 110, which provides
28hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, which is issued or renewed within or without 3 of 5
29the commonwealth, shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary
30behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
31 SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition,
32is hereby amended by inserting after section 38 the following new section:-
33 Section 39. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
34following meanings:
35 “Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral
36health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care
37coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or
38substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
39 “Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public
40health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
41 (b) Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group
42hospital service plan which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall
43provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled
44services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
45 SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition,
46is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following new section:-
47 Section 26. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
48following meanings: 4 of 5
49 “Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral
50health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care
51coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or
52substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
53 “Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public
54health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
55 (b) Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement
56which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a
57nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered
58through community behavioral health centers.
59 SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition,
60is hereby amended by inserting after section 33 the following new section:-
61 Section 34. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the
62following meanings:
63 “Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral
64health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care
65coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or
66substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
67 “Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public
68health and regulated pursuant to title 130 CMR 448.00. 5 of 5
69 (b) Any health maintenance contract issued or renewed within or without the
70commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary
71behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.