Amendment ID: S2769-14

Amendment 14

Pediatric mental health care task force

Messrs. Tarr, Montigny, Welch and O'Connor move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

“SECTION _. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a pediatric mental health care task force to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the delivery of pediatric mental health services in the commonwealth and make recommendations to improve the availability, access and cost-effectiveness of such services.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members or a designee: the secretary of health and human services, who shall serve as chair; the assistant secretary for MassHealth; the commissioner of public health; 2 members to be appointed by the senate president; 2 members to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and 8 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 2 of whom shall be representatives of providers of pediatric mental health, 2 of whom shall be representatives of academic medical institutions and 2 of whom shall be representatives of parents or family members of consumers of pediatric mental health services.

(c) The task force shall submit a report of its findings, together with any proposed legislation, not later than December 31, 2020 to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on health care financing and the senate and house committees on ways and means.”