Consolidated Amendment "D" to H5500

Public Health & Mental Health and Disability Services

Fiscal Note: $13,405,000

Amendments 1230 and 1325 are recategorized from Labor and Economic Development to Constitutional Officers and State Administration

Amendments from Public Health: 27, 70, 100, 117, 131, 138, 165, 181, 198, 209, 227, 249, 253, 271, 281, 287, 290, 292, 293, 327, 341, 344, 347, 353, 360, 424, 430, 434, 468, 471, 483, 494, 516, 547, 551, 552, 553, 559, 588, 683, 685, 687, 689, 702, 717, 718, 720, 732, 739, 742, 756, 878, 890, 912, 915, 918, 931, 932, 933, 937, 940, 961, 972, 978, 992, 993, 997, 1003, 1005, 1018, 1020, 1021, 1040, 1056, 1061, 1063, 1077, 1086, 1175, 1176, 1215, 1220, 1224, 1261, 1313, 1320, 1323, 1368, 1395, 1396, 1401, 1402, 1415, 1448, 1452, 1467, 1468, 1469, 1470, 1491, 1496, 1502, 1527, 1529, 1537, 1541, 1562, 1565, 1617, 1647, 1654, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1695, 1697, 1699, 1705, 1712, 1716, 1717, 1718, 1724, 1726, 1734, 1735 and 1737

Amendments from Mental Health & Disability Services: 17, 130, 140, 194, 212, 247, 326, 400, 427, 506, 515, 548, 580, 590, 591, 598, 606, 639, 658, 695, 699, 701, 703, 714, 737, 782, 801, 975, 1044, 1109, 1188, 1239, 1290, 1345, 1385, 1464, 1543, 1632, 1659 and 1661

Mr. Michlewitz of Boston and others move to amend H.5500 in section 2, in line item 4510-0110, by inserting after the words “section 254c(f)(1)” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to Harbor Health Services Inc. to support expanded access at the Plymouth Community Health Center; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts to support the 413Cares centralized database of community services in western Massachusetts; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to Fenway Health Center for the purpose of supporting a Medical Education and Health Research Fellowship Program; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to NEW Health - Charlestown for the purpose of operating and maintaining treatment of substance use disorder; provided further, that not less than $400,000 shall be expended to the North End Waterfront neighborhood health center; provided further, that not less than $125,000 shall be expended to infrastructure and operational upgrades related to expanding access to dental care and primary care services at Geiger Gibson Community Health Center in the Dorchester section of the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the continuation of a comprehensive substance abuse and narcotic use reduction program at a federally qualified health center located in South Boston;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$10,118,222” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $11,443,222

And further amend said section 2, by inserting after item 4510-0600 the following item:-

4510-0601 For the department of public health to fund implementation and ongoing administration of the Parkinson's Disease Registry as established in section 243 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as amended by section 225 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024………………………………………………………$100,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4512-0200, by inserting after the words “no other payer” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Community Servings for the purposes of providing medically tailored meals to persons battling chronic illnesses and workforce training programs to those recovering from addiction; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Merrimack Valley Prevention and Substance Abuse Project, Inc., for resources, community outreach and programs in the Merrimack Valley; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to the operation of The Dimock Center’s Behavioral Health continuum of care to provide comprehensive treatment for individuals suffering from substance use disorder and other behavioral health challenges, address workforce challenges and reduce barriers to care; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the operation of the Gavin Foundation’s behavioral health continuum of substance use care to provide comprehensive treatment for individuals suffering from substance use disorder and other behavioral health challenges; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to the Joseph Nee Collaborative Center for substance use disorder programming

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$184,095,689” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $184,670,689

And further amend said section 2, in item 4512-0205, by inserting after the words “recovery services” the following words:- ; provided, that not less than $300,000 shall be expended to for Office-Based Addiction/Opioid Treatment, a program of the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center; provided further, that not less than $175,000 shall be expended to Self Esteem Boston for direct service and provider training programs; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to One Life at a Time, Inc., located in the city known as the town of Braintree, for the facilitation of access to sober living programs and job training services for people in recovery and associated operational costs; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the city known as the town of Braintree for the Braintree Community Partnership on Substance Use; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to Harbor Health Services, Inc. for a grant program to prevent and treat addiction to opioid and related substances; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended to RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, Inc. to assist in their work to end the opioid epidemic in the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the purposes of the operation of Resources for Recovery Inc. located in the Hyde Park section of the city of Boston; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to continued capital improvements to the Cambridge Community Center and for the expansion of their community-based behavioral health program

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $3,150,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4512-2022, by inserting after the words “regional boards of health”, the second time they appear, the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Plymouth’s office of health and human services for the planning and implementation of an equity survey, and to develop and implement trainings

And further amend said item striking out the figure “$12,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $12,050,000

And further amend 4513-1001 by striking out the figure “$1,960,200” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,460,200

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-1005, by striking out the words “and provided further, that the department shall collaborate with the department of children and families on said programming” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- provided further, that the department shall collaborate with the department of children and families on said programming; and provided further, that not less than $1,700,000 shall be expended to Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. to continue services previously funded by Title X funding

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-1026, by inserting after the word “independence” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended to Sharing Kindness, Inc. to support implementation of the Hope Squad peer-to-peer suicide prevention program in schools

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$14,393,198” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $14,423,198

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-1098, by inserting after the word “violence” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Survivors Say, Inc. for direct support services to survivors and victims of both high-profile tragedies and other traumas and crimes; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Darrell Lee Jenkins Jr. Resource Center, Inc. in the city of Springfield

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$500,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $610,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-1112, by inserting after the words “Allied Disorders, Inc” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $6,752,977 shall be expended for smoking prevention and cessation programs, including youth tobacco use prevention and cessation programs at the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program; provided further, that not less than $475,000 shall be expended to the Forsyth Institute’s Center for Children’s Oral Health to expand its Forsyth Kids programming focused on children and adolescents and to explore the emerging association between oral health status and academic performance; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the operation of the Cranberry Health Research Center at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. to provide care services for individuals suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the purposes of the operation of VITfriends LLC located in the Hyde Park section of the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the town of Winthrop for a resource navigation and coordinator position in the Winthrop department of public health and clinical services; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to the Duchenne Program at the University of Massachusetts medical school to advance clinical care, research and innovation for patients with complex disorders affecting the human nervous system

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,195,532” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $13,220,532

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-1136, by inserting after the words “25,000 or less” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Center for Women and Community at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to support community services; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Cape Verdean Association, Inc. for domestic violence outreach in the city of Brockton

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$83,907,342” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $83,982,342

And further amend said section 2, in item 4513-2020, by inserting after the words “underserved areas of the commonwealth” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Inc. to fund local non-profit organizations and social services agencies in the 16th Middlesex district

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$11,424,681” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $11,474,681

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-0250, by inserting after the words “public and nonpublic schools” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the North Quabbin Community Coalition, Inc.; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to assist in programming efforts for the Southcoast LGBTQ Network, Inc. in the city of New Bedford

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$21,975,011” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $22,075,011

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-0915, by inserting after the words “section 2B” the following words:- ; provided further, that Tewksbury hospital shall maintain in fiscal year 2026 no less than the number of beds maintained in in fiscal year 2025; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to municipalities hosting a department of public health facility that also acts as a department of mental health continuing care facility; provided further, that said funds shall not be expended to a municipality if the department of public health facility also operates as a department of correction facility

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$251,288,736” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $251,363,736

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-0930, by inserting after the word “program” the following words:- ; provided, that when sourcing intranasal naloxone products, the department of public health shall apply evaluation criteria intended to expand access to lifesaving naloxone, strengthen supply reliability for statewide distribution and reduce product expiration waste, and shall give preference to drug manufacturers that meet the following criteria: at least 2 continuous years of experience manufacturing and assembling intranasal naloxone products in the United States; demonstrated capacity to ship intranasal naloxone products to dispersed sites across the state; a consistent history of maintaining publicly accessible financial, governance and operational information, with independent verification as required under applicable federal and state laws or regulations; an established operational presence in the state; demonstrated ability to provide distribution data insights and educational and training materials; and ability to provide the maximum available shelf life from date of manufacturing

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-1503, by inserting after the words “eligible for this program” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Seven Sisters Midwifery LLC; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Worcester Community Midwifery to provide midwifery care and birth center services to families across the state; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to the development and implementation of a pilot program for MassHealth to partner with a mobile pregnancy application to promote awareness of the commonwealth’s maternal and infant health programs to prenatal, pregnant and postpartum individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid or are eligible for Medicaid; provided further, that such application shall have the capability to deliver education, resources and support to prenatal, pregnant and postpartum individuals and their families, including, but not limited to, information specific to the commonwealth, links to programs administered by the department and other state agencies and culturally and linguistically appropriate content; provided further, that not later than January 30, 2028, the department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and report on utilization, outcomes and recommendations for expansion

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$14,585,830” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $14,885,830

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-1504, by inserting after the words “pilot program”, the second time they appear, the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to the Nubian Square Safety Initiative

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$11,107,331” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $11,307,331

And further amend said section 2, in item 4590-1507, by inserting after the word “youth” the last time it appears the following words:- ; provided , that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the Mildred C. Hailey youth center for staffing and operations, resources and events that support the residents of the Mildred C. Hailey development; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to the Big Brother Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended to the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.; provided further, that not less than $1,500,000  shall be expended to the Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, Inc., which shall be distributed between the alliance’s member organizations to support educational programming for youth; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Moving Mountains; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Awake Youth Violence Prevention; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to The Black Springfield Covid-19 Coalition; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to College Bound Dorchester, Inc. for the administration of Uncornered and other services for at-risk youth; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to LTS Grow with Success Academy to support professional development in the cosmetology field and to provide job training for low-income residents in the Merrimack Valley; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Change the Play to support professional development and mentorship efforts for at-risk youth in the Merrimack Valley; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Day Dreaming Organization Inc to support baseball programming and youth mentoring in the city of Lawrence; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Sueños Basketball, Inc. to support the recreational, social and health benefits the league provides to low-income youth in the city of Lawrence; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Methuen Youth Basketball Association, Inc. to enhance youth mentorship initiatives, develop robust sports programming and strengthen violence prevention efforts aimed at promoting teamwork, personal development and community engagement among Methuen youth, and programming shall prioritize underserved youth and promote life skills that support academic success and leadership; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Hoop and Handles in the city of Methuen to provide targeted youth mentorship, individualized basketball training and skill development programming for underserved and at-risk youth; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the city known as the town of Randolph for purposes of continued funding for the town’s Enhanced Social Services Program; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Friends and Mentors, Inc. for costs associated with their at-risk youth mentoring programming in the city of Brockton; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to The Possible Zone for Career and Technical Education (CTE) initiatives in the cities of Lawrence, Lowell and Brockton; and provided further, that not less than $600,000 shall be expended to the YWCA organizations, which shall be distributed equally between the Alliance of YWCAs member organizations

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$7,200,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $12,270,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 5042-5000, by inserting after the words “specialty psychiatry” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Inc. in the town of Shrewsbury to provide mental health services in the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Boston Community Pediatrics, Inc. to support the Integrated Behavioral Health program; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the Children's Room Center for Grieving Children & Teenagers, Inc. in the town of Arlington for student mental health support; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to The NAN Project to increase mental health awareness and suicide prevention

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$136,668,638” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $137,063,638

And further amend said section 2, in item 5046-0000, by inserting after the words “outcomes measured” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for a grant to the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc. to provide assistance in connecting consumers to licensed clinical social workers through the Therapy Matcher program

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$679,676,424” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $679,701,424

And further amend said section 2, in item 5911-1003, by inserting after the words “Down Syndrome Congress, Inc.” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to Operation House Call at Arc Massachusetts, Inc. to maintain and expand training to medical students and other graduate level health care professionals to work with individuals with autism and other developmental and intellectual disabilities

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$107,462,218” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $107,612,218

And further amend said section 2, in item 5920-2000, by inserting after the words “any such transfer” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Cape Abilities, Inc. to create energy-efficient exterior transformation of their primary service hub for individuals with disabilities

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$2,067,501,853” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,067,601,853

And further amend said section 2, in item 5920-2010, by inserting after the words “community-based health services” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Berkshire Family and Individual Resources, Inc.; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Harbor Health Services, Inc. to be used for equipment and technology improvements at their Harbor Community Health Center in the village of Hyannis in the city known as the town of Barnstable

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$372,259,320” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $372,359,320

And further amend the bill in section 35 by striking out, in line 358, the word “section”, the second time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- 2 sections.

And further amend the bill in section 35 by inserting after the word “recommendations.”, in line 387, the following section:-

Section 251. (a) As used in this section, the term “provider immunization brand choice” shall mean that healthcare providers shall select specific manufacturer brands for their patients.

(b) Notwithstanding section 24N and any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall implement a provider immunization brand choice requirement as part of: (i) the commonwealth’s universal immunization program under section 24I; (ii) routine childhood immunizations under section 24N; (iii) the Vaccines for Children Program operated by the department under the authority of 42 U.S.C. §1396s; and (iv) in any other existing or future immunization program for children or adults administered by the commonwealth using local, state or federal funds.

(c) For all categories of immunizations included in subsection (a), all participating health care providers shall be able to select any brand or type of immunization, including any combination immunization and dosage form, as long as the immunization is licensed or authorized for emergency use by the federal Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The department shall not limit the ability of such health care providers to provide an immunization by limiting the supply of immunizations purchased by the department. This section shall not apply in the event of a shortage or delay in vaccine availability, disaster or public health emergency, terrorist attack, hostile military or paramilitary action or extraordinary law enforcement emergency.

(d) The department shall, for the purposes of the purchase, delivery and administration of vaccines, use the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine list established, and periodically reviewed and revised, by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

And further amend the bill by inserting after section 49 the following section:-

SECTION 49A. Subsection (d) of section 112 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2026” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2027.

And further amend the bill in section 50 by striking out, in line 706, the words “Chapter 9 of the acts of 2025 is hereby” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Said chapter 9 is hereby further.

And further amend the bill by inserting after section 73 the following section:-

SECTION 73A. The department of public health shall implement all or part of the provider immunization brand choice requirement pursuant to section 251 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, inserted by section 35, as soon as practicable; provided, however, that the department shall complete full implementation of the system not later than October 1, 2026.