An Act relative to using Medicaid for violence prevention and intervention

This bill allows Massachusetts Medicaid to cover specialized violence prevention and intervention services for individuals who have been injured by community violence or are at high risk of becoming victims or perpetrators. To qualify for these services, a person must be referred by a healthcare provider, police officer, school official, or social services agency after being assessed as being at elevated risk. The covered services include trauma-informed therapy, case management, access to housing and employment resources, and mental health support provided by certified violence prevention professionals. The legislation directs the state to seek necessary federal approvals to fund these services using existing violence prevention grants and federal reinvestment funds.