Amendment ID: S2572-28-R1

Redraft Amendment 28

Commission on Administrative Burdens to Accessing Care

Messrs. Crighton and Tarr and Ms. Lovely move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section 57 the following section:-

"SECTION 57A. There shall be a special commission to review and make recommendations on reducing, streamlining or eliminating barriers to accessing mental health care services, without decreasing care quality, patient safety or program integrity in the commonwealth.

The commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the secretary of health and human services, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of insurance; the assistant secretary for MassHealth; the commissioner of public health; the director of the division of health professions licensure; the commissioner of mental health; the chair of the board of registration in medicine; a representative of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc.; a representative of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign; a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc; a representative of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.; a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Psychological Association, Inc.; a representative of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc.; a representative of the MAAPPN Massachusetts Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc.; and a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

The commission shall review the barriers to accessing mental health care services, including, but not limited to: (i) administrative tasks that may divert mental health providers’ time and attention from patient care, including credentialing, billing and reimbursement processes; (ii) the impact of public and private insurance carriers’ utilization management policies, including, but not limited to, prior authorization, utilization review, medical necessity standards and clinical guidelines, on patient care delivery; (iii) the payment rates, payment structures and methods of payment for mental health care services; and (iv) the reasons that mental health providers do not accept public or private insurance and the ways to incentivize the acceptance of such insurance.

The commission shall report its findings and submit recommendations to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on health care financing not later than 1 year from the effective date of this act. The executive office shall also make the report publicly available on its website.”.