Amendment ID: S2609-4

Amendment 4

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Study

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

"Section XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, and subject to appropriation, the health policy commission, in consultation with the department of public health, shall create and administer an early childhood investment opportunity program to extend to the next phase of life the work of the neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) investment opportunity program created pursuant to item 1599-1450 of chapter 49 of the Acts of 2015. Not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended to implement a program to administer and test the efficacy of programs to support and care for families with young children who were substance exposed newborns, including evaluating best practices  to promote optimal long term outcomes for children including school readiness and trauma informed care.  The commission shall administer a competitive process in which applicants demonstrate community need and the capacity to operate a fully integrated model.  The program shall support a model or models that include both medical services and traditionally non-reimbursed services and may support services provided in clinic settings and/or in-home visits. The commission shall consider demonstrated success in the NAS investment opportunity program and capacity to share best practices throughout the commonwealth and the nation. The commission shall report to the joint committee on mental health and substance use and recovery as well as the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than 12 months following completion of the grant program on the results of the programs, including their effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability."