An Act directing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to study the feasibility of incentivizing inpatient psychiatric hospitals to admit patients directly from community behavioral health centers

HD 1140 directs Massachusetts' Department of Public Health to study whether offering incentives to inpatient psychiatric hospitals for directly admitting patients from community behavioral health centers would be feasible. The study must examine potential mechanisms for such incentives and assess their impact on patient care transitions. The Department must submit a report with findings and recommendations to legislative committees by January 1, 2027. This bill does not create new policy but mandates a study to inform future decisions about improving psychiatric care coordination.