7/29/2019
HB1734 / SB1153, HB1733 / SB1152
An Act Removing Administrative Barriers to Behavioral Health Services
An Act Improving Access to Behavioral Health Services
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association (MHA), on behalf of our member hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, and allied healthcare providers, appreciates the opportunity to submit comments in strong support of HB1734/SB1153 and HB1733/SB1152, which seek to remove administrative barriers and improve access to behavioral health services.

While the Legislature and the Administration have sought to improve coverage and parity protections for mental health services, there continues to be several administrative barriers that need to be addressed to ensure expanded access. These barriers contribute to the daily boarding of patients in hospital emergency departments (EDs) and hinder the ability of clinicians to work with patients to find appropriate placement options within the continuum of care. The provisions of HB1734/SB1153 and HB1733/SB1152 address some of the most pressing administrative barriers and advance reforms that the state can take immediately to drastically improve access to services for patients in need of behavioral healthcare.

HB1734/SB1153 remove prior authorization requirements for inpatient mental health services within the MassHealth program so long as the provider notifies MassHealth within 48 hours of the inpatient admission. While the majority of the commercial health insurers in the state have adopted this standard, the MassHealth program still requires prior authorization, which has led to increased ED boarding and delayed access to medically necessary care for these patients.

HB1733/SB1152 would expand the number of community-based crisis stabilization service teams to help care for patients outside of hospital EDs, and, if necessary, to allow such teams – which work directly with patients – to determine if an admission to a hospital facility from the community is necessary. This important step would facilitate more timely services and help relieve backups in the ED. Currently, if the community-based screening team under contract with MassHealth determines that an admission is appropriate, they must send the patient to the ED, which results in duplicative reviews and further delays in care, as well as contributing to the ED boarding problem. This legislation also requires that any changes are developed in consultation with a working group of relevant stakeholders.

The provisions of HB1734/SB1153 and HB1733/SB1152 will provide meaningful change for patients by addressing key administrative challenges plaguing the state’s behavioral health system. MHA looks forward to working with the committee to advance these important fixes in an expedient manner.

 Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony on this matter. If you have any questions regarding this testimony, or require further information, please contact Michael Sroczynski, MHA's Senior Vice President of Government Advocacy at (781) 262-6055 or msroczynski@mhalink.org