SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1419        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1155

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 establishing a commission to study the availability of a continuum of care for persons with substance use disorder.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1419        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1155

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 establishing a commission to study the availability of a continuum of care for persons with substance use disorder.

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study the availability of a continuum of care for persons with substance use disorder. The commission shall review: (i) the availability of detoxification services, clinical stabilization services, transitional support services, residential recovery home services and outpatient treatment including medication assisted treatment and (ii) make an assessment of what the appropriate capacity should be for each level of care to allow individuals to efficiently access each level of care as clinically necessary.

The commission shall consist of: the house and senate chairs of the committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, who shall serve as co-chairs; a member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; a member appointed by the senate president; the minority leader of the house, or a designee; the minority leader of the senate, or a designee; the secretary of the office of health and human services, or a designee; the assistant secretary for masshealth; the commissioner of the department of public health, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of mental health, or a designee; the commissioner of the division of insurance, or a designee; and one from each of the following: Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.; Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery; the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association; the Massachusetts Medical Society; Recovery Homes Collaborative; Learn to Cope;  the Grayken Center; the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans; and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Annually, not later than March 1, the commission shall file a report with the house and senate clerks on its activities and any recommendations. The commission shall monitor the implementation of its recommendations.