Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 26, 2022 DiDomenico, colleagues celebrate signing of landmark mental health reform New law makes critical strides to ensure equitable access to mental health O n August 10, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act addressing barriers to care for mental health – also known as the Mental Health ABC Act – comprehensive legislation championed by Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues to reform of the way mental health care is delivered in Massachusetts, with the goal of ensuring that people get the mental health care they need when they need it. The Mental Health ABC Act (now Chapter 177 of the Massachusetts General Laws) is driven by the recognition that mental health is as important as physical health for every resident of the Commonwealth and should be treated as such. The law includes a wide variety of reforms to ensure equitable access to mental health care and remove barriers to care by supporting the behavioral health workforce. “For far too long in our state and across the nation, mental health has not received the attention it deserves, making this care too expensive or too burdensome for many Massachusetts residents to access,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is the Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “This law will transform our mental health care system and ensure people can access and aff ord mental health care just like other forms of medical care. I am thrilled to see this historic mental health reform signed into law and I would like to thank Senate President Spilka, Senator Julian Cyr, SenANGELO’S FULL SERVICE Regular Unleaded $3.819 Mid Unleaded $4.359 Super $4.739 Diesel Fuel $4.839 44 Years of Excellence!! 1978-2022 KERO $8.99 DEF $4.75 9 DYED ULS $4.499 9 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS Hours: Mon. - Wed. 6AM - 6PM / Thurs. & Fri. 6AM - 7PM / Sat. 7AM - 5PM / Sun. 9AM-1PM ator Cindy Friedman and all my colleagues for their dedication to get this game-changing bill passed.” “One moment, many years ago, I made the split-second decision to share the story of my family’s struggle with mental illness—a moment of vulnerability and honesty that has become a movement, as more and more people stand up and speak up for accessible, high quality mental health care,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “We all deserve to have access to the mental health care we need, when we need it, and I am thrilled to see comprehensive mental and behavioral health care reform signed into law. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate—especially Senators Cyr and Friedman—Speaker Mariano and our partners in the House, and Governor Baker, as well as the countless individuals, families, advocates, providers and others who have stood up for the idea that mental health is just as important as physical health, and to everyone who has fought for mental health care reform in Massachusetts and never gave up.” Below are features of the new law: • Guaranteeing annual mental health wellness exams: mandates insurance coverage for an annual mental health wellness exam, comparable to an annual physical. • Enforcing mental health parity laws: provides the state with better tools to implement Sal DiDomenico State Senator and enforce parity laws by creating a clear structure for state agencies to receive and investigate parity complaints and ensure their timely resolution. • Initiatives to address Emergency Department boarding: creates online portals that provide access to real-time data on youths and adults seeking mental health and substance use services and includes a search function that allows health care providers to easily fi nd open beds using several criteria; requires the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to prepare and publish a report every three years on the status of pediatric behavioral health as the youth boarding crisis is particularly acute; requires the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to report on behavioral health needs; updates the Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions (EPIA) protocol and creates an expedited evaluation and stabilization process for patients under 18. • 988 implementation and 911 expansion: increases access to on-demand behavioral health care through the implementation of the nationwide 988 hotline that will provide 24/7 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis services – and expands 911 to bridge the gap until 988 is implemented. • Extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs): initiates a public awareness campaign on ERPOs (also known as “red fl ag laws”) that limit access to guns for people at risk of hurting themselves or others. • Reimbursing mental health providers equitably: requires an equitable rate fl oor for evaluation and management services that is consistent with primary care. • Reforming medical necessity and prior authorization requirements: mandates coverage and eliminates prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services for adults and children and ensures that if a health insurance company intends to change its medical necessity guidelines, the new guidelines must be easily accessible by consumers on the health insurance company’s website. • Creating a standard release form: directs the development of a standard release form for exchanging confidential mental health and substance use disorder information to facilitate access to treatment by patients with multiple health care providers. DIDOMENICO | SEE PAGE 4 OUR OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 519 BROADWAY, EVERETT SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: Rocco Longo, Owner WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM Prices subject to change Ask about our Heating Oil Conditioner! FLEET
3 Publizr Home