MA H2193

Secretary of Health and Human Services must coordinate statewide implementation of behavioral health reform, developing biennial strategic plans addressing staffing, financing, rate adequacy, service capacity, and linguistic/cultural competency

Requires exploration of combining the behavioral health access line with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline into a single number and entity to reduce complexity for individuals and families

Mandates creation of a public data dashboard within 6 months tracking roadmap service utilization, disparities in access, response times, and patient outcomes, updated quarterly with de-identified information

Secretary must oversee behavioral health crisis response planning with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, including establishing protocols for law enforcement drop-offs at community behavioral health centers

Center for Health Information and Analysis must conduct triennial analysis of the community behavioral health crisis system expenditures by payor, with first report due June 30, 2026; Health Policy Commission must prepare corresponding financing and sustainability reports every 3 years