SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1798        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1033

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Robert L. Hedlund

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve establishing a commission to investigate state licensed addiction treatment centers.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1798        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1033

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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Resolve establishing a commission to investigate state licensed addiction treatment centers.

Resolved, That a special commission is hereby established to make an investigation and study relative to state licensed addiction treatment centers.

The commission shall consist of the co-chairpersons of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, who shall serve as co-chairpersons of the commission; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the director of medicaid or a designee; the Massachusetts Inspector General or a designee; and 5 advocates from the addiction treatment community with at least 3 of whom shall be a family members of individuals who have been treated at a state licensed addition treatment center

The commission shall: (1) solicit information and input from addiction treatment service providers, consumers, families and any other parties or entities the commission deems appropriate; (2) examine the effectiveness of addiction treatment services in promoting successful outcomes of recovery and wellness, (3) examine how to effectively involve peers in policy development, service delivery, training and evaluation of services, (4) examine exemplary models of delivery, and use of recovery oriented services in other states; (5) Investigate negative outcomes of early release from sectioned treatment; (6) Gather data about death by suicide or overdose following release, early or otherwise, from addiction treatment center; (7) examine mental health considerations when an individual enters addiction treatment center, including, but not limited to, how often patients get to meet with psychiatrist, how much communication, if any, treatment center has with patients primary care and other doctors that patient sees; (8) Investigate specific instances of early release from addiction treatment center where patient later commits bodily harm to themselves or others; (9) evaluate conditions of state licensed treatment centers and their ability to obtain not for profit status; and (10) recommend legislation to address ways to improve services for people in a state licensed addiction treatment center.

The commission shall submit a report to the general court of the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the senate, the clerk of the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than one year from enactment of this bill.