HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2877        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2208

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Brandy Fluker-Reid

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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 establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2877        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2208

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund.

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

Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 16GG the following new section:

Section 16HH. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following

meanings:

“Medically underserved populations”, populations that have: (i) too few

primary care, behavioral health, or perinatal healthcare providers;(ii) a high infant mortality rate; (iii) high rates of poverty; or (iv) high elderly population. 

“Perinatal”, the period of time from pregnancy up until one year following birth.

“Perinatal individual”, an individual that: (i) is either pregnant or is within 12 months from the date of giving birth; (ii) is a biological parent or an adoptive or foster parent who is within 12 months from assuming custodial care of a child; or (iii) has lost a pregnancy due to a still birth, miscarriage or a medical termination within the previous 12 months.

“Perinatal behavioral health care workforce”, health care providers in the field of mental or behavioral health, including substance use disorders, who are acting in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth and who focus on perinatal health in perinatal individuals.

“Secretary”, the secretary of health and human services.

(a) The secretary shall establish a trust fund to address the perinatal behavioral health workforce; this fund shall be referred to as Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund. 

(b) The secretary shall administer funds from said trust fund through grants to entities to establish or expand educational or training programs designed to grow and diversify the perinatal mental and behavioral health care workforce.

(c) The secretary shall promulgate regulations or guidelines as necessary to develop and implement the grant application process and eligible uses of grant funds pursuant to this section; provided that the grant funds prioritize programs serving medically underserved populations or operating in areas with significant racial, ethnic or geographic disparities in perinatal health outcomes;

(d) The secretary shall make public an annual report on    

1) the number of grants awarded to entities in the preceding fiscal year and the amount of each such grant; 

2) the nature of entities receiving grant funds;

3) the persons or organizations participating in educational or training programs provided by the entities receiving grant funds, provided that all information is stratified by demographics, including but not limited to age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, language, and zip code; 

4) the impact the entities’ use of grant funds on healthcare shortages;  

5) the impact the entities’ use of grant funds on the sustainability of the perinatal mental and behavioral health workforce; and

6) the populations, communities and individuals served pursuant to such grants, provided that all information is stratified by demographics, including but not limited to age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, language, and zip code.