Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – Friday, February 21, 2020 Sen. DiDomenico and colleagues pass Mental Health ABC Act O n February 13, State Senator DiDomenico and the Massachusetts Senate passed S.2519, An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health – also known as the Mental Health ABC Act – comprehensive legislation aimed at reforming the mental health care system in Massachusetts. This serves as the first step toward developing a more integrated system of mental health care delivery to better meet the needs of individuals and families. “For too long, mental health has been an overlooked part of our health care system, leaving many Massachusetts residents without access to the critical services and treatment that they need,” said DiDomenico. “As we know, mental health is just as important as physical health, and I am proud of the steps my colleagues in the Senate and I have taken to reLaw Offices of John Mackey & ASSOCIATES * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * GENERAL PRACTICE * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 John Mackey, Esq. WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM Patricia Ridge, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. I move barriers and increase parity in mental health care. I would like to especially thank Senate President Karen Spilka, who has made this legislation a top priority this session, and all my colleagues who played a role in crafting this crucial bill.” Historically, Massachusetts residents have had difficulty accessing mental health services due to health inequities and persistent barriers to care – leaving many without the treatment they need and deserve. According to a 2018 report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, over half of a representative sample of fully insured adults who sought mental health care services reported difficulty finding services. The Mental Health ABC Act seeks to increase access by removing barriers to timely quality care, providing the state with more effective tools to enforce existing mental health parity laws, and investing in the mental and behavioral health workforce pipeline. The legislation builds on progress made through state mental health parity laws passed in 2000 and 2008, and the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 at the federal level. The Mental Health ABC Act is driven by the recognition that mental health is just as important as physical health for every resident of the Commonwealth – and reflects the Senate’s overall goal of improving access to mental health care for all. The Senate has prioritized efforts in the 2019–2020 legislative session to improve the delivery of mental health services in the Commonwealth, and the Mental Health ABC Act builds on these efforts by addressing issues related to mental health parity, workforce needs, and access to care. The Mental Health ABC Act provides the state with better tools to implement and enforce mental health parity laws, which require that insurance coverage for mental health benefits be equal to and no more restrictive than coverage for physical health benefits. Mental health parity has been codified in federal and state law for decades, but enforcement of the law has been DIDOMENICO | SEE PAGE 4 Tahiliani chooses Boston colleague as deputy superintendent By Christopher Roberson ncoming Superintendent of Schools Priya Tahiliani will have a familiar face, Attorney Kim Tsai, joining her as deputy superintendent when she takes the reins of the Everett Public Schools on March 1. School Committee Vice Chairman Frank Parker said that during the past 12 years the district’s population has grown by 2,000 students. He said 55 percent of Everett’s students are Hispanic and that many students have social-emotional needs. “There’s been a huge shift,” said Parker. He also expects the budget to increase by as much as $50 million during the next seven years with funding from the Student Opportunity Act. “A new position is warranted because of the growth,” said Parker, adding that Tsai will be “responsible for the day-to-day operations.” Parker also said Tsai will complement the roles of Assistant Superintendent of Schools Kevin Shaw and Assistant Superintendent of Business Affairs Charles Obremski. The details of Tsai’s compensation package were not available at press time. Tahiliani has worked with Tsai for the past nine years at the Office of English Language Learners in the Boston Public Schools. Tsai currently serves as the office’s director of Legal Compliance. Prior to her position in Boston, Tsai was employed at South Coastal Counties Legal Services in Fall River and at the Law Office of Michael James Kelley in downtown Boston. Tsai holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from New York University and received her Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. Tahiliani and Tsai filed a lawsuit against the Boston Public Schools two years ago claiming they were paid less than their male colleagues despite having very similar jobs. The case remains in litigation. Everett's Newest Real Estate Office Commercial Sales and Leasing Residential Home Sales Real Estate Consulting Apartment Rentals Real Estate Auctions Business Brokerage Personal Property Appraisals Mass Licensed Auctioneer Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma 560 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 | 617-512-5712 | sam@broadwayRE.com ADRIANA RESNICK DOMENICA RIGGIO SAM RESNICK
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