Healthcare (Mental Health)

introduced · Massachusetts · House May 18, 2026

HD 6053: A communication from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (see Section 145 of Chapter 126 of the Acts of 2022) submitting a report entitled: “Emergency Boarding in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts”

This bill serves as a formal communication from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission to the General Court, submitting a report on emergency department boarding in the state. The document analyzes data on patient wait times and outlines existing strategies, such as the Expedited Admissions Task Force and community behavioral health centers, designed to divert patients from overcrowded emergency rooms. It details specific findings regarding how long different age groups wait for care and reviews the effectiveness of current policies aimed at reducing these delays. Ultimately, the bill provides a factual record of the state's efforts to manage emergency boarding without proposing new legislative changes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill submits a report analyzing wait times and outlining strategies to improve emergency department access and reduce overcrowding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Apr 8, 2026

H 5349: Amendment H.5349

Text of amendments, recommended by the committee on Ways and Means, to the Senate Bill to promote student learning and mental health (Senate, No. 2581, amended). April 7, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to promote student learning and mental health, indicating a supportive stance toward educational well-being.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to promote student mental health, which directly supports mental health services under the healthcare topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Apr 8, 2026

H 5366: Amendment H.5366

Text of the House amendments to the Senate Bill to promote student learning and mental health (Senate, No. 2581) (being the text of House document numbered 5349, published as amended). April 8, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to promote student learning and mental health, indicating a supportive stance toward education.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to promote student mental health, which falls under the healthcare topic of mental health services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 23, 2026

H 5283: An Act relative to providing health education in schools

This bill amends Massachusetts education laws to formally include health education as part of the required curriculum in public schools. It mandates that health education standards be age-appropriate and medically accurate, covering topics such as physical development, nutrition, mental health, substance use prevention, and community health. The legislation also requires school districts to notify parents when implementing sexual education curricula and allows parents to request exemptions for their children without penalty. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the state's health curriculum framework serves as a guide for local districts and explicitly states that health education will not be tested on the MCAS exam.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands required curriculum by mandating health education standards, enhancing student programs and educational access in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health education in schools covering mental health, nutrition, and substance use prevention, strengthening public health awareness and education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 2973: An Act to provide continuum of care for severe mental illness

The committee on Health Care Financing to whom was referred the Senate Bill to provide continuum of care for severe mental illness (Senate, No. 1115), - reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2973).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides continuum of care for severe mental illness, directly supporting mental health services and patient access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 5276: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

This bill requires healthcare providers and emergency responders to check for available community-based mental health services before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals with mental illness. It defines "community alternatives" to include crisis intervention teams, urgent care services, peer support programs, and other non-hospital settings, requiring that these options be considered first unless they are unavailable or the person refuses them. The law also mandates that hospitalization applications document why community alternatives were inappropriate or declined, and it requires the state department to track hospitalization data by demographics and maintain a public website listing available community services and their capacity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes community-based mental health services and reduces unnecessary hospitalizations, protecting patient rights and expanding access to alternative care options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 5229: An Act modernizing the six fundamental rights

This bill modernizes the six fundamental rights for individuals in mental health and substance use treatment facilities by updating state law to expand access to communication, visitors, and personal living spaces. It ensures people can make confidential phone calls, send and receive mail without censorship, receive visitors daily, and have private access to personal care items that respect their gender identity. The legislation also clarifies when rights can be temporarily suspended, requires facilities to establish clear rules for suspensions, and creates a new enforcement system with fines and a dedicated fund to support affected individuals. Additionally, it expands the list of professionals who can visit patients and strengthens accountability by mandating penalties for facilities that violate these rights.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient rights in mental health facilities, improving access to communication, visitors, and personal care, directly supporting mental health services and patient protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 22, 2026

H 5230: An Act relative to access to psychiatric collaborative care

This bill establishes minimum payment rates for psychiatric collaborative care services across multiple types of health insurance and programs in Massachusetts, including Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and health maintenance organizations. It requires these payers to reimburse providers for specific psychiatric collaborative care billing codes at rates equal to or higher than the current Medicare fee schedule, with provisions for annual adjustments. The law applies to all contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after January 1, 2027, and includes a list of specific billing codes that must be covered while allowing insurance regulators to add additional codes through future regulations. The bill aims to standardize reimbursement practices for mental health care services delivered through collaborative models across different insurance systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes minimum payment rates for psychiatric collaborative care across multiple insurance programs, expanding access and funding for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 5275: An Act reducing emergency department boarding

This bill amends existing mental health laws to protect individuals held in emergency departments who are being restrained while awaiting psychiatric evaluations. It requires facilities not authorized to perform evaluations to inform patients and their guardians about their right to voluntary admission and limits restraint to a maximum of 72 hours. If a person is held longer than 48 hours at such a facility, they must be told they can request a lawyer, and the state will appoint one if needed. The bill also allows individuals to request an emergency court hearing within one business day if they believe the restraint was improper. These changes directly affect patients, their families, and mental health facilities across the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects civil rights of individuals in mental health crisis by limiting restraint duration and ensuring legal representation, aligning with criminal justice reform and rights protection.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient rights in mental health settings, limits restraint duration, and ensures legal representation, directly supporting healthcare access and patient safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 2974: An Act to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care

The committee on Health Care Financing to whom was referred the Senate Bill to provide more timely treatment of inpatient mental health care (Senate, No. 1401), - reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2974).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to improve timely treatment for inpatient mental health care, directly supporting mental health services and patient access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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