By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 708) of John J. Cronin for legislation to preserve access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses. 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 preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses
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4 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 1 of Chapter 176O of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new definition: -
“Serious mental illness,” any of the following conditions, as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
(1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
(2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
(3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
(4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
(5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
(6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive.
(7) Schizophrenia.
(8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
▸SECTION 2
Section 12A of said Chapter 176O is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:-
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a carrier or utilization review organization shall not, with respect to a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious mental illness, impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy protocol, or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.
▸SECTION 3
Section 8 of Chapter 118E of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby amended by inserting therein the following new definition:-
i½. “Serious mental illness”, any of the following conditions, as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
(1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
(2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
(3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
(4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
(5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
(6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive.
(7) Schizophrenia.
(8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
▸SECTION 4
Section 51A of said chapter 118E is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: -
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the division or an entity with which the division contracts to provide or manage health insurance benefits shall not, with respect to a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious mental illness, impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy protocol, or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.
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SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 176O of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new definition: -
“Serious mental illness,” any of the following conditions, as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
(1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
(2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
(3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
(4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
(5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
(6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive.
(7) Schizophrenia.
(8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
SECTION 2. Section 12A of said Chapter 176O is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:-
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a carrier or utilization review organization shall not, with respect to a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious mental illness, impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy protocol, or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.
SECTION 3. Section 8 of Chapter 118E of the Massachusetts general laws is hereby amended by inserting therein the following new definition:-
i½. “Serious mental illness”, any of the following conditions, as defined by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:
(1) Bipolar disorders, hypomanic, manic, depressive, and mixed.
(2) Childhood and adolescent depression.
(3) Major depressive disorders, single episode or recurrent.
(4) Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
(5) Paranoid personality disorder and other psychotic disorders.
(6) Schizo-affective disorders, bipolar or depressive.
(7) Schizophrenia.
(8) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
SECTION 4. Section 51A of said chapter 118E is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection: -
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the division or an entity with which the division contracts to provide or manage health insurance benefits shall not, with respect to a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious mental illness, impose a prior authorization requirement, step therapy protocol, or any other protocol that could restrict or delay the dispensing of the drug.