SENATE DOCKET, NO. 269        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1502

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John F. Keenan

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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 bill:

An Act providing access to full spectrum addiction treatment services.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 269        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1502

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act providing access to full spectrum addiction treatment services.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby amended in sections 9, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 by inserting after the definition of “Clinical stabilization services,” in each instance, the following new definition:-

“Transitional support services,” short-term, residential support services usually following clinical stabilization services, licensed by the department of public health to provide a safe and structured environment to support adults or adolescents in their addiction recovery process and their transition to outpatient or other aftercare.

SECTION 2. Section 9 of Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby further amended by striking the words “acute treatment services and medically necessary clinical stabilization services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining such acute treatment services or clinical stabilization services” and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary transitional support services for up to a total of 28 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining such services”

SECTION 3. Section 19 of Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby further amended by striking the words “for up to 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining clinical stabilization services” and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“and medically necessary transitional support services for up to a total of 28 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining such services”

SECTION 4. Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014 is hereby further amended in sections 21, 23, 25 and 27 by striking the words “acute treatment services and medically necessary clinical stabilization services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining acute treatment services or clinical stabilization services” and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary transitional support services for up to a total of 28 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining such services”

SECTION 5. The division of insurance shall conduct a review of the network adequacy and patient access to the acute treatment, clinical stabilization, and transitional support services required to be covered by carriers pursuant to sections 21, 23, 25 and 27 of chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014, and shall submit a report of findings to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, and the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, not later than March 31, 2016.