Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 25, 2025

S 2601: Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery to make an investigation and study of a certain current Senate document relative to behavioral health services for children and families.

Senate, September 11, 2025 -- The committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1392) of Julian Cyr and Joanne M. Comerford that provisions be made for a special commission to study available behavioral health services and to make recommendations for improving access to behavioral health services for children and families in the commonwealth, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 2601).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes committee to study and improve access to children's behavioral health services, directly aligning with mental health support indicators in healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2198: An Act reducing emergency department boarding

HD 2148 limits involuntary emergency holds to 72 hours at facilities not authorized by the department to perform psychiatric evaluations, requiring immediate release after that period. For psychiatric holds lasting over 48 hours at such facilities, the bill mandates referral to the Committee for Public Counsel Services to appoint legal counsel. This directly affects patients in emergency departments and the hospitals managing their care, changing how facilities handle extended involuntary holds. The law establishes specific time limits and legal safeguards for patients held in non-authorized facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces emergency department boarding delays, improving patient access to care for mental health services as specified in bill's subject area.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2197: An Act ensuring access to addiction services

This bill redefines "facility" to exclude jails and correctional entities, ensuring only dedicated treatment centers provide care for substance use disorders. It requires the health department to maintain a public roster of available treatment beds (including secure facilities) and mandates geographic distribution of secure facilities across Massachusetts. Courts can commit individuals to secure facilities only when specific security needs are documented, and released patients may voluntarily continue treatment. The bill also explicitly states correctional facilities must still offer voluntary evidence-based treatment to incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to 'ensure access to addiction services' under mental health/substance use, directly expanding healthcare access and aligning with support indicators like improving patient access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2214: An Act relative to substance use disorder evaluations

This bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to annually collect and report specific data on substance use disorder evaluations. The department must track the frequency and locations of these evaluations, including how many people who received an evaluation later returned to an acute care facility for opioid overdose treatment within the same year. The data must be reported annually by January 1 to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and the House and Senate Ways and Means committees. The bill does not change treatment protocols or funding but mandates transparency in tracking evaluation outcomes related to opioid overdoses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses substance use disorder evaluations under mental health/substance use recovery, directly supporting healthcare services for these conditions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 15, 2025

S 382: An Act requiring opioid use disorder education

This bill requires all public school districts, charter schools, and approved private schools to integrate opioid use disorder education into existing health curricula. It mandates teaching specific topics, including opioid types, overdose identification, naloxone use and access, reducing stigma around naloxone, and medical amnesty protections for laypeople who assist during overdoses. The education standards must be incorporated into current health classes without creating new standalone courses. The bill does not impose new funding requirements but allows the department to seek external funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid education curriculum in public schools, enhancing K-12 educational content and aligning with curriculum improvement indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires opioid use disorder education in public schools, a preventive public health measure directly addressing substance abuse treatment and mental health services within healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 772: An Act related to comprehensive clinical and extended support services

This bill (SD 971) requires health insurers to cover specific addiction treatment services without prior approval for certain groups. It mandates coverage for acute treatment, clinical stabilization, and transitional support services (defined as short-term residential care after detox) for Commonwealth employees (active or retired) under group insurance, and for Medicaid beneficiaries. The law limits preauthorization for clinical stabilization and transitional support to a 30-day period, requires facilities to notify insurers within 48 hours of admission, and restricts insurers from denying future care based on utilization reviews before 30 days of service. Medical necessity is determined by the treating clinician, not insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly increases mandatory coverage for addiction care recovery, expanding health services and patient access to mental health treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2201: An Act relative to ensuring quality mental health services in state correctional facilities

HD 2257 requires the Commissioner of Mental Health to oversee mental health services for prisoners in state correctional facilities. It directly affects inmates receiving mental health care, the Department of Correction, and mental health service providers working in prisons. Key provisions include the Commissioner reviewing and approving all contracts for these services, setting minimum service standards, and conducting biannual facility audits to ensure compliance. The bill also mandates that mental health professionals in correctional settings operate under the Department of Mental Health's supervision.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates quality mental health services in correctional facilities, strengthening access to care and aligning with mental health protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1955: An Act relative to fentanyl test strips

This bill protects individuals and organizations that provide or use fentanyl test strips in good faith. It adds legal immunity from criminal, civil, or professional penalties for using these strips to test substances for fentanyl or its analogues. The law explicitly states this protection applies unless the user acted with gross negligence, willful misconduct, or wanton misconduct. The bill directly affects harm reduction programs, healthcare providers, and community groups distributing test strips.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizing fentanyl test strips reduces criminal penalties for possession, aligns with harm reduction reform, and promotes public health within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDecriminalizing fentanyl test strips increases public health access to harm reduction tools, directly supporting overdose prevention and patient safety within healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 29, 2026

S 1042: An Act relative to life saving treatment

By Mr. Collins, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1042) of Nick Collins for legislation to require that patients admitted to a medical facility for suffering an overdose receive an evaluation by a licensed social worker before discharge. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates social worker evaluation for overdose patients before discharge, improving mental health follow-up care and patient safety per healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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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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