SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2864
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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SENATE, July 30, 2020.
The committee on Rules, to whom was referred the Senate Bill to improve access to treatment for individuals with perinatal substance use disorder (Senate, No. 2482),-- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a “Resolve establishing a special commission for improving access to treatment for individuals with perinatal substance use disorder” (Senate, No. 2864).
For the committee,
Joan B. Lovely
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2864
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act relative to improving access to treatment for individuals with perinatal substance use disorder.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Resolved, that there shall be a special commission to evaluate the barriers to substance use treatment in the perinatal period. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of public health or a designee, who shall have expertise in family and infant health; the commissioner of mental health or a designee, who shall have expertise in maternal mental health and the intersection of substance use disorder; the commissioner of children and families or a designee who shall have experience with providing support and stabilization services to families impacted by substance use disorder; the director of substance addiction services or a designee who shall have experience with coordinating substance use treatment for women; the director of MassHealth or a designee; 4 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be from the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Moms , 1 of whom shall be from the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts , 1 of whom shall be from the Boston Medical Center’s Project RESPECT and 1 of whom shall be a person with experience seeking treatment in the perinatal period; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; and 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader.
The special commission shall develop recommendations to remove barriers to treatment for perinatal substance use disorder, including, but not limited to: (i) insurance coverage; (ii) access to medication assisted treatment; (iii) access to mental health treatment; (iv) access to treatment postpartum depression to facilitate parenting; (v) screening for substance use disorder; and (vi) the integration of perinatal care and substance use treatment. In developing recommendations, the special commission may coordinate and consult with other commissions and entities, as appropriate.
The commission shall submit a report of its findings, along with its recommendations and any proposed legislation , to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities not more than 1 year from the date of the commission’s first meeting.