Healthcare (Mental Health)

passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 23, 2026

H 1187: An Act relative to increasing consumer access to licensed rehabilitation counselors

This bill (HD 2549) adds "licensed rehabilitation counselor" to the list of professionals defined as "licensed mental health professionals" in five Massachusetts law sections (chapters 32A, 175, 176A, 176B, and 176G). It directly affects licensed rehabilitation counselors by expanding their scope to provide mental health services under these laws, and affects consumers seeking mental health care by increasing potential provider options. The key mechanism is amending existing definitions in the statutes to include rehabilitation counselors within the scope of practice for mental health services. The bill does not create new programs or funding but clarifies which professionals qualify under current law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill clarifies insurance coverage for licensed rehabilitation counselors, directly increasing access to mental health services per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 17, 2026

H 2363: An Act directing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to study the feasibility of incentivizing inpatient psychiatric hospitals to admit patients directly from community behavioral health centers

HD 1140 directs Massachusetts' Department of Public Health to study whether offering incentives to inpatient psychiatric hospitals for directly admitting patients from community behavioral health centers would be feasible. The study must examine potential mechanisms for such incentives and assess their impact on patient care transitions. The Department must submit a report with findings and recommendations to legislative committees by January 1, 2027. This bill does not create new policy but mandates a study to inform future decisions about improving psychiatric care coordination.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill studies incentivizing direct admissions from community centers to psychiatric hospitals, improving mental health access and service integration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 23, 2025

S 1380: An Act to further enhance behavioral health workforce development

This bill requires Massachusetts state departments to update job classifications to fully include Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) in their official job descriptions. It directly affects the Departments of Mental Health, Youth Services, Children and Families, Public Health, and Personnel Administration, as well as LMHCs and LSMHCs working in state roles. The key mechanism mandates that all relevant state job postings under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services must reflect these updated classifications by September 1, 2023. This change ensures state hiring practices formally recognize the full scope of practice for these mental health professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly enhances behavioral health workforce development, directly strengthening mental health services as stated in summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 1397: An Act establishing alternative models for behavioral health transport

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1397) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to establish five regional pilot programs to examine alternative models for transport of behavioral health patients. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates behavioral health transport pilots to divert individuals from criminal justice system, reducing incarceration for mental health crises per reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes regional pilot programs to improve behavioral health transport access, directly supporting mental health services under the topic's scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Nov 17, 2025

S 780: An Act requiring mental health parity for disability policies

This bill (SD 1553) requires disability insurance policies in Massachusetts to provide equal coverage for behavioral health disorders (like mental health conditions) as for physical disorders. It prohibits individual and group disability policies from imposing different benefit limits or exclusions on people with mental health conditions compared to those with physical health conditions. The law allows medical exams to verify disability, as long as these requirements are identical for both types of conditions. This directly affects disability insurers and policyholders in Massachusetts by mandating fair treatment of mental health claims under existing disability coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health parity in disability policies, mandating equal coverage for mental health services as physical health, directly supporting expanded mental health access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 10, 2025

H 595: An Act providing for mental health professionals in public schools

This bill requires every public school district to hire at least one full-time school psychologist and one full-time school social worker for all K-12 students. School psychologists must conduct mental health screenings, assess student needs, train staff, and recommend school environment improvements. School social workers must provide psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, therapy, and act as liaisons between families, schools, and communities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create rules to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health professionals in public schools, directly expanding access to mental health services within educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 835: An Act to further define medical necessity determinations

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 835) of John C. Velis relative to health plan coverage for medically necessary mental health crisis stabilization services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures health plan coverage for medically necessary mental health crisis stabilization services, directly supporting access to mental health care under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2228: An Act providing appropriate care for certain populations

This bill creates standardized "forensic units" within certain facilities to provide specialized care for specific patient populations. It defines these units as physically separate areas with incarceration-like restrictions, specialized staff training, and appropriate environments. The law mandates that individuals admitted under certain legal or medical conditions (specified in existing sections of the law) must initially be placed in these forensic units upon facility admission. The bill directly affects patients meeting those admission criteria and the facilities responsible for their care. These changes aim to establish consistent care protocols for vulnerable populations within the state's healthcare system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates forensic units in hospitals for mental health/substance use care, diverting individuals from criminal justice system and supporting rehabilitation, aligning with reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates forensic units for mental health/substance use recovery, directly advancing specialized care services in healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 111: An Act ensuring access to behavioral health services for children involved with state agencies

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 111) of Brendan P. Crighton for legislation to ensure access to behavioral health services for children involved with state agencies. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures access to behavioral health services for children, directly advancing mental health care access within healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2234: An Act establishing alternative models for behavioral health transport

This bill establishes five regional pilot programs across Massachusetts to test non-emergency transport options for behavioral health patients (e.g., mental health or substance use treatment), replacing ambulance use where appropriate. It requires MassHealth, insurers, and behavioral health providers to reimburse these alternative transport services for participants in the pilots. The Health Policy Commission must study the pilots’ effectiveness, measuring factors like transfer times, reduced stigma, cost-efficiency, and how reimbursement compares to traditional ambulance transport. The goal is to evaluate whether these models improve access and resource use before potentially expanding them statewide.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill examines alternative transport models for behavioral health patients, directly improving access to mental health services under the topic's scope.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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