By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 703) of John J. Cronin, Jason M. Lewis, Michael O. Moore, John F. Keenan and other members of the Senate for legislation relative to community behavioral health centers. Financial Services.
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Date
Branch
Action
2/9/2026
Senate
2/9/2026 SenateCommittee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
12/11/2025
Senate
12/11/2025 SenateBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
9/9/2025
Joint
9/9/2025 JointHearing rescheduled to 09/09/2025 from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM in A-2 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time
9/3/2025
Joint
9/3/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 09/09/2025 from 10:30 AM-1:00 PM in A-2 and virtual
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseHouse concurred
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateReferred to the committee on Financial Services
An Act improving access to community behavioral health centers
Active
10 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Chapter 32A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following new section:-
▸SECTION 31
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any health plan offered by the commission shall provide to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
▸SECTION 2
Chapter 175 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47PP the following new section:-
▸SECTION 47Q
Q. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 108, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, and a group blanket or general policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 110, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth, shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
▸SECTION 3
Chapter 176A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 38 the following new section:-
▸SECTION 39
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
▸SECTION 4
Chapter 176B of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following new section:-
▸SECTION 26
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
▸SECTION 5
Chapter 176G of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 33 the following new section:-
▸SECTION 34
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to title 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any health maintenance contract issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 30 the following new section:-
Section 31. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any health plan offered by the commission shall provide to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth who is insured under the group insurance commission benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47PP the following new section:-
Section 47QQ. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any individual policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 108, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, and a group blanket or general policy of accident and sickness insurance issued pursuant to section 110, which provides hospital expense and surgical expense insurance, which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth, shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 38 the following new section:-
Section 39. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 25 the following new section:-
Section 26. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in title 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement which is issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.
SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 33 the following new section:-
Section 34. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
“Behavioral health bundled services”, services delivered by a community behavioral health center as specified in 101 CMR 305.00 for the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, management, or peer support of patients with mental health, developmental or substance use disorder, provided that services are reimbursed through a flat rate per encounter.
“Community Behavioral Health Centers”, a clinic licensed by the department of public health and regulated pursuant to title 130 CMR 448.00.
(b) Any health maintenance contract issued or renewed within or without the commonwealth shall provide benefits on a nondiscriminatory basis for medically necessary behavioral health bundled services delivered through community behavioral health centers.