Amendment #1434 to H4000

Required Information Prior to DMH Proposed Program Closures

Representatives Domb of Amherst and Saunders of Belchertown move to amend the bill in section 2, in item 5042-5000, by striking out the following: “shall be expended for an intensive residential treatment program” and inserting in place thereof the following: "shall be expended to maintain the operations and capacity of existing clinically intensive residential treatment programs and intensive residential treatment programs at not less than levels provided in fiscal year 2025; provided further, that not less than 6 months prior to any termination of operations or reduction of capacity at any such program, the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery on: (i) an evaluation of the program, including, but not limited to: (A) the number of referrals made and wait time for admission to the program on behalf of children and adolescents with behavioral health needs in the current and prior fiscal year; (B) the number of children and adolescents who received services from the program in the current and prior fiscal year; (C) an evaluation of the department's referral process and its effect, if any, on the number of referrals made to and children and adolescents served by the program in the current and prior fiscal year; (D) an evaluation of the program's clinical outcomes, quality of care provided and success in decreasing emergency department boarding; (E) the projected effect the closure of the program will have on the department’s ability to ensure continued care for children and adolescents of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations and gender identities; and (F) any outstanding financial commitments of the department or the program and any projected adverse consequences of early termination or continuation of existing contracts on the department, vendor or clients; and (ii) the department’s proposed plan to terminate operation of or a third party contract with the program or to reduce the number of beds in the program, including, but not limited to, the department’s plan to ensure that children and adolescents of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations and gender identities eligible for services at such programs continue to receive and have future access to a level of care that is equal to or greater than the care that had been provided at the program, taking into consideration geographic equity;".

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1434 to H4000

Required Information Prior to DMH Proposed Program Closures