Amendment #6 to S2142

Quality Outcomes Dashboard

Ms. Benson of Lunenburg moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the bureau of substance abuse services shall create a public facing quality outcomes dashboard. This dashboard shall report on, but not be limited to (i) consumer satisfaction responses including treatment with dignity and respect, appropriateness of services, expertise of treatment staff, consumer education, and other measures with respect to the provision of substance abuse services; and (ii) nationally recognized Washington Circle and federal SAMSHA outcome-based measurers, including, but not limited to, step-down to next level of care, abstinence measures, and recidivism to higher levels of care within 14-days and 30-days.  All outcomes reporting and any qualitative assessments of said outcomes shall adjust for and reflect the acuity of patients admitted to a particular service, including, but not limited to, homelessness status, prior mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and other co-occurring disorders; provided further that quality outcomes reported on the public facing dashboard shall not constitute grounds for any insurance carrier, as defined in section 1 of chapter 176O, to deny admission or reimbursement for substance abuse services. Said dashboard shall also include demographic information such as race, ethnicity and gender. Said dashboard shall be in place by no later than June 30, 2015.