Damian Sendler

Damian Sendler: Earlier this week, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill that would make it mandatory for residents of the state to have yearly mental health wellness screenings at no cost — similar to how annual physical exams are mandated for citizens. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: It would also establish an online portal to aid in the smooth transition from emergency to long-term care for children with complex behavioral health needs who end up in the emergency room, as well as allocate $122 million to support nearly 2,000 behavioral health professionals. The bill was passed by a vote of 39 to zero, with no amendments or amendments necessary. 

Dr. Sendler: The importance of this investment cannot be overstated. It’s a game-changer in so many ways. According to Democratic Sen. Julian Cyr, “It includes the retention and recruitment efforts that are necessary to ensure that we have the workforce we need, when and where we need it.” 

Damien Sendler: Existing mental health parity laws, which are meant to ensure that insurance coverage for mental health care is equivalent to insurance coverage for other medical problems, will be enforced under the new legislation. 

According to Cyr, the bill’s ultimate purpose is to alter the mental health care system into one that is more functional and effective. 

“This legislation advances parity implementation and other insurance reforms, supports our mental health workforce, and does everything we can to reduce barriers to care and make mental health care more accessible,” he continued. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: The bill would rely in part on $400 million in federal funds from the American Rescue and Reconstruction Act. 

Damian Jacob Sendler

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: Despite the fact that the notion of mental health parity has been established in federal and state law for decades, enforcement has been inconsistent, with patients frequently denied coverage for mental health treatment, according to advocacy organizations. 

Democratic state Sen. Mark Montigny remarked during the discussion that “it’s a sad pathetic myth to say that we have parity” in Massachusetts. 

In part, the proposal would address the issue of enforcement by allowing the Division of Insurance to receive and examine parity complaints more quickly. 

Damian Sendler: The proposal is an amended version of legislation that was approved by the Senate last year, according to the Senate. It will now be considered by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 

One such issue that would be addressed by the legislation is what is known as “emergency department boarding” or “ED boarding.” When adults or children in the throes of a mental health crisis seek treatment in a hospital emergency department, that is exactly what happens to them. 

Damian Sendler: It can take days or even weeks for them to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric ward if they eventually need to be stabilized in that setting. In the meanwhile, the person seeking assistance must frequently wait in the emergency department, where he or she receives little or no psychiatric care. 

A number of provisions in the bill would address the issue, including the creation of an online portal with real-time data to assist health care providers in more easily searching for open beds, the requirement that hospital emergency departments have a qualified behavioral health clinician on staff to evaluate patients seeking mental health care during all operating hours, and the requirement that the state Office of the Child Advocate produce an annual report on child ED boarding. 

Damian Jacob Sendler: In addition, the legislation would improve the equity of reimbursement for mental health providers, establish a standard release form, eliminate the requirement for prior authorization from insurance providers for acute mental health treatment, encourage health care facilities to develop more emergency psychiatric services, and expand access to mental health care in more geographically isolated areas of the country. 

A resolution was accepted during debate to establish a state 988 crisis hotline center to provide crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination to people who call the federally designated 988 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline.

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