Amendment ID: S2609-17

Amendment 17

Medically Assisted Treatment

Messrs. Collins, Lesser and O'Connor move that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following new section:

SECTION XX. (a) There shall be a special commission established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study and make recommendations regarding the use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the commonwealth, including methadone, buprenorphine and injectable long-acting naltrexone.

(b) The commission shall: (i) create aggregate demographic and geographic profiles of individuals who use medication-assisted treatment; (ii) examine the availability of and barriers to accessing medication-assisted treatment, including federal, state and local laws and regulations; (iii) determine the current utilization of, and projected need for, medication-assisted treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings, including, but not limited to, inpatient and residential substance use treatment facilities, inpatient psychiatric settings, pharmacy settings, mobile settings and primary care settings; (iv) identify ways to expand access to medication-assisted treatment in both inpatient and outpatient settings; (v) identify ways to encourage practitioners to seek waivers to administer buprenorphine to treat patients with opioid use disorder; (vi) study the availability of and concurrent use of behavioral health therapy for individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment; and (vii) study other related matters.

(c) The commission shall consist of 13 members: the commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the executive director of the health policy commission or a designee; the director of Medicaid or a designee; the house chair of the joint committee on mental health, substance use, and recovery; the senate chair on mental health, substance use, and recovery; and 1 representative of each of the following 8 organizations: the Massachusetts Medical Society; the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association; the Association for Behavioral Healthcare; the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems; the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association; and the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery.

(d) The commission shall file a report on its findings and recommendations, together with any recommendations for legislation, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate no later than 1 year from the effective date of this act.