HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1766        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1708

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)

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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 to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for sufficient privacy.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1766        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1708

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by providing for sufficient privacy.

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. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the

following new chapter:

1.) An Act to improve the quality of mental health services, and rights of patients, by

providing for sufficient privacy.

2.) All individuals, who present themselves, for mental health services, and/or are

admitted for such services, and/or assessment, shall be entitled to a specific private intake room,

or physical space, where only they, medical staff, and relevant security, may hear any intake,

and/or treatment conversations.

3.) These provisions, may not be waivered, except in extreme emergency circumstances;

which shall be specifically noted, and recorded in a medical record, and the reasons therefore,

by responsible medical, and intake staff.

4.) In the context, of significant, and substantial reductions in funding, for various

medical services, including mental health services, it has occurred that patients being seen for

intake, and/or treatment, have been seen in open wards, and/or emergency general settings,

without privacy. This can have various effects, in denying privacy, diminishing the provision of

needed information between medical staff, and actual or potential patients, and compromising

important treatment discussions.

5.) It is in the interests of public policy, that such inherent violations, of needed

confidentiality, be reduced, and/or eliminated to the extent possible, by various measures.

6.) The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and its Public Health Council

(PHC), are hereby authorized to develop, establish, and enforce the needed regulations, to carry

out the intent of this legislation.