Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-490-R1

Redraft EHS 490

Access to Children’s Behavioral Health Services

Messrs. Cyr, Eldridge and Tarr, Ms. Edwards and Messrs. Collins, O'Connor and Brady moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 4000-0300, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that there shall be a special commission which shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee from the office of the secretary, who shall serve as chair; the assistant secretary of MassHealth or a designee; the commissioner of mental health or a designee; the commissioner of children and families or a designee; the commissioner of insurance or a designee; the commissioner of early education and care or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery or their designees; a representative of Association for Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.; a representative of Children’s League of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative of Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc.’s Children’s Mental Health Campaign; a representative of Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.; a representative of Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.;  a representative of Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc.; and a representative of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Inc.; provided further, that not later than June 30, 2026, the commission shall submit a special report to the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the joint committee on health care financing and the senate and house committees on ways and means detailing recommendations for improving access to behavioral health services for children and families; provided further, that the special report shall include, but not be limited to: (aa) a list of the behavioral health services, including services and treatment for substance use disorder and for autism spectrum disorder, available to children and adolescents under 22 years of age; (bb) a list of common challenges that children, adolescents and families face in seeking behavioral health services including, but not limited to, challenges associated with program eligibility criteria, affordability and cost-sharing, insurance or state program denials, application processes and service authorization processes, staffing, wait times and geography; (cc) recommended policies to address challenges identified under clause (bb) and for streamlining access to behavioral health services for children, adolescents and families including, but not limited to, adolescent continuing care inpatient and residential treatment services; (dd) a review of state funding dedicated to behavioral health services for children across state agencies and MassHealth and an examination of the impact of how such funding is used to maximize the delivery of services and available federal resources; (ee) analysis of the feasibility and effects of creating a single integrated children’s behavioral health agency; (ff) a 3-year strategic plan for the delivery of behavioral health services for children and families that considers all providers and payers; and (gg) any matters deemed relevant by the commission; provided further, that the secretary of health and human services shall make the report publicly available online".