Bill S.2918

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2918

Senate, July 30, 2024 -- Text of amendment (14) (offered by Senator Keenan) to the Ways and Means amendment (Senate, No. 2898) to the Senate Bill relative to accessing harm reduction initiatives

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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by inserting after section __ the following sections:-

"SECTION __. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 17N and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 17N. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, which provides evaluation and withdrawal management and that may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

“Clinical stabilization services”, 24-hour clinically managed post detoxification treatment for adults or adolescents, as defined by the department of public health, usually following acute treatment services for substance use, which may include intensive education and counseling regarding the nature of addiction and its consequences, relapse prevention, outreach to families and significant others and aftercare planning, for individuals beginning to engage in recovery from addiction.

“Co-occurring treatment services”, inpatient medically monitored detoxification treatment for adults or adolescents provided in an inpatient psychiatric facility or an inpatient psychiatric unit within a general hospital, licensed by the department of mental health.

The commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for medically necessary acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary co-occurring treatment services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining such acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services, or co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall notify the carrier of both admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be in initiated on day 7; and provided further, that the commission shall provide to any active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission coverage for, without preauthorization, substance use disorder evaluations ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.

SECTION __. Chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 10H and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 10H. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, which provides evaluation and withdrawal management and that may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

"Clinical stabilization services'', 24-hour clinically managed post detoxification treatment for adults or adolescents, as defined by the department of public health, usually following acute treatment services for substance use, which may include intensive education and counseling regarding the nature of addiction and its consequences, relapse prevention, outreach to families and significant others and aftercare planning, for individuals beginning to engage in recovery from addiction.

The division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall cover the cost of medically necessary clinical stabilization services and co-occurring treatment services for up to 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining clinical stabilization services and co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall provide the carrier both notification of admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be initiated on day 7; and provided further, that the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization or primary care clinician plan shall cover, without preauthorization, substance use disorder evaluations ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.

SECTION __. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 47GG and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 47GG. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, which provides evaluation and withdrawal management and that may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under section 1 of chapter 111M, shall provide coverage for medically necessary acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services and medically necessary co-occurring treatment services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services, or co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall notify the carrier of both admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be initiated on day 7; provided further that any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage pursuant to section 1 of chapter 111M, shall cover, without preauthorization, a substance use disorder evaluation ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.

SECTION __. Chapter 176A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 8II and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 8II. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, which provides evaluation and withdrawal management and that may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for medically necessary acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary co-occurring treatment services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services, or co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall notify the carrier of both admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be initiated on day 7; provided further, any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth, shall cover, without preauthorization, a substance use disorder evaluation ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.

SECTION __. Chapter 176B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 4II and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 4II. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, which provides evaluation and withdrawal management and that may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for medically necessary acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary co-occurring treatment services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services or co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall provide the carrier both notification of admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be initiated on day 7; provided further, any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth shall provide coverage for, without preauthorization, a substance use disorder evaluation ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.

SECTION __. Chapter 176G as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 4AA and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 4AA. "Acute treatment services'', 24-hour medically supervised addiction treatment for adults or adolescents provided in a medically managed or medically monitored inpatient facility, as defined by the department of public health, that provides evaluation and withdrawal management and which may include biopsychosocial assessment, individual and group counseling, psychoeducational groups and discharge planning.

An individual or group health maintenance contract that is issued or renewed shall provide coverage for medically necessary acute treatment services, medically necessary clinical stabilization services, and medically necessary co-occurring treatment services for up to a total of 14 days and shall not require preauthorization prior to obtaining acute treatment services, clinical stabilization services, or co-occurring treatment services; provided, that the facility shall provide the carrier both notification of admission and the initial treatment plan within 48 hours of admission; provided further, that utilization review procedures may be initiated on day 7; provided further, an individual or group health maintenance contract that is issued or renewed shall provide coverage for, without preauthorization, a substance use disorder evaluation ordered pursuant to section 51 1/2 of chapter 111.

Medical necessity shall be determined by the treating clinician in consultation with the patient and noted in the patient's medical record.”