Amendment #222 to H5562

An act establishing a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund

Mrs. Fluker-Reid of Boston moves to amend the bill by adding the following section: SECTION XX.  SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after

section 16GG the following section:-

Section 16HH. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context

clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Eligible entity”, (i) A public or private institution of higher education or a non-profit or

community-based organization or health center serving perinatal individuals including, but not

limited to: (1) a recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization; (2) an organization serving

individuals from medically underserved populations and other underserved populations; or (3) a

public health agency, including a municipal public health department; or (ii) an individual who is

seeking to become or currently a member of the perinatal behavioral health care workforce.

“Medically underserved populations”, historically underserved populations or

populations within a geographic area with a lack of access to primary care, behavioral health or

perinatal healthcare providers or with a high infant mortality rate, high rates of poverty or high elderly population, as determined by the secretary.

“Perinatal”, the period of time from pregnancy up until one year following birth.

“Perinatal behavioral health care workforce”, health care providers in the field of mental or behavioral health, including substance use disorder services, who are acting in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth and who focus on supporting mental or behavioral health in perinatal individuals.

“Perinatal health outcomes”, health outcomes related to perinatal individuals.

“Perinatal individual”, an individual who: (i) is either pregnant or is within 12 months from the date of giving birth; (ii) is a biological parent or an adoptive or foster parent who is within 12 months from assuming custodial care of a child; or (iii) has lost a pregnancy due to a still birth, miscarriage or a medical termination within the previous 12 months.

“Secretary”, the secretary of health and human services.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the secretary shall establish a perinatal behavioral health

care workforce trust fund to grow and diversify the perinatal behavioral health care workforce,

hereinafter “the trust fund”.

(c) The secretary shall administer funds from the trust fund through grants to eligible

entities to establish, expand or expand access to educational or training programs designed to

grow and diversify the perinatal behavioral health care workforce.

(d) The secretary shall promulgate regulations or guidelines as necessary to develop and implement the grant application process and eligible uses of grant funds pursuant to this section;

provided, however, that grant funds shall prioritize eligible entities serving medically underserved populations or operating in areas with significant racial, ethnic or geographic disparities in perinatal health outcomes

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #222 to H5562

An act establishing a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund