An Act preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 708) of John J. Cronin for legislation to preserve access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. Financial Services.
Bill Information
Bill Information
- Presenter:
- John J. Cronin
- Status:
- Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means
The bill aims to improve access to medications for individuals with serious mental illnesses in Massachusetts by amending existing laws to ensure that these medications are dispensed promptly. It specifically defines "serious mental illness" to include conditions such as bipolar disorders, major depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as outlined in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The legislation seeks to eliminate barriers to medication access by prohibiting carriers, utilization review organizations, and the division responsible for health insurance benefits from implementing prior authorization requirements, step therapy protocols, or any restrictive measures that could delay access to FDA-approved drugs for these conditions. The overall goal is to ensure individuals diagnosed with serious mental illnesses receive timely and unrestricted access to the medications they need.
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