Kevin papa (@kevinjpapa) tweeted Wed, Nov 10, 2021:
Video link -> https://t.co/itloiWZ2Yb
Coaches Corner…8-0 ... playoff win vs Braintree
Video link -> https://t.co/itloiWZ2Yb
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Library of Congress: Danielle Allen to Deliver Address Nov 16
Danielle Allen to Receive Kluge Prize, Deliver Address on Educating for DemocracyOn Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021 Danielle Allen will accept the Library's John W. Kluge Prize for the Study of Humanity in a livestreamed gala from the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. Allen will deliver an address titled "Educating for American Democracy," in which she considers the role of education in fostering a common purpose in American society. At a time when the idea of cooperation for the public good is tested by crisis and political division, Allen's work connects us and brings us together around shared goals, all while maintaining the importance of the differences that make the United States what it is. Click here for more information.
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Will you be at opening night for Mamma Mia!?
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Franklin Police: Crash with property damage under investigation
"The Franklin Police Department is currently investigating an incident at roughly 10:43 PM November 9, with a Jordan Road resident reporting that a Ford F450 truck had crashed into her garage, damaging that structure and a vehicle within that garage.
The driver of the truck was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, treated and released. Although the investigation is ongoing and not yet completed, charges are anticipated.
The suspect driver is a sworn member of the Franklin Police Department but was not on duty at the time of the incident. The officer is being placed on paid administrative leave by the Town Administrator. Further information will be released should charges be taken."
Copy of the Police Media Release -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B6w481-au6lLe9ORd9XiQwUmpC7XgJI2/view?usp=sharing
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| Franklin Police: Crash with property damage under investigation |
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
2021 Franklin Biennial Election Information Survey
To help prepare for the next local or biennial election, let's capture what you think about the information available for this one while it is still 'fresh' at hand. The original sources of information covered via this survey are the following:
- Franklin Voters Guide
- Milford Daily News/Wicked Local
- Frank Falvey's interviews for Franklin TV
- the candidate question series by Franklin Matters
- the two candidate nights (11/14/21 & 11/21/21)
If the survey form is not visible, please use this link
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| 2021 Franklin Biennial Election Information Survey |
Recap: newly elected School Committee organizes; gets started with light agenda and Executive Session
Quick Recap:
- The new School Committee organized itself by voting in Denise Spencer as Chair and Elise Stokes as Vice-Chair
- Multiple Citizen Comments, a variety this time; Rev Juncker and Rabbi Alpert spoke representing the Interfaith Council; parent for challenging text like "Bluest Eye"; parent speaking against vaccination; J Maciel questions equity of comment time between School Committee and Town Council meetings, vs. student representative comments who get to speak more than residents
- minor business conducted in this first session, approving policy with minor wording changes for consistency of text
- moved to Executive Session, via roll call vote, not to return to public session
- Note - confirmed post meeting that the committee members were all sworn in before the meeting commenced
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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting live from the Council Chambers
The Twitter hashtag can be found online #schcom1109
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom1109&src=typeahead_click
- getting ready for the #schcom1109 meeting to begin shortly. Live tweeting from the Council Chambers this evening
- Meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_11-9-21_org.pdf Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/november-9-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet #schcom1109
- Working out some tech difficulty to get the meeting broadcast going. As you may be aware, there were three simultaneous broadcasts of FHS playoff games, 2 are underway, the 3rd did end in time for this to assume its channel spot #schcom1109
- nomination of Spencer for Chair, seconded; passes 7-0 #schcom1109
- Zoom appears to have sound, cable may not, motion for Stokes for Vice Chair, second, passes 7-0 #schcom1109
- pause to check on audio status, Zoom can hear, Cable cannot; meeting starts on Zoom then goes to the Studio for broadcast via Verizon/Comcast... confirmed as working now #schcom1109
- open soon for Citizen Comments, Chair reading statement and guidelines on comment policy; #schcom1109
- expectation of conduct set for Council Chambers; slide to be added #schcom1109
- Franklin Interfaith Council - Rev Juncker and Rabbi Alpert stand to talk for their statement in support for #LoveFranklin https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/10/a-call-to-our-community-lovefranklin.html
- parent speaking for challenging books, like the Bluest Eye, as good for education in understanding the situation #schcom1109 challenge and empower the students, invest in the amazing staff so they can continue this work
- parent speaking against the vaccine for kids quoting FDA statements #schcom1109 challenging Supt to speak to answer the science on this matter
- J Maciel requests a podium, requesting change in meeting order agenda; @schcom1109 where is the equity with Sch comments of 3 mins; Town Council mtg allows 5; runs out of time
- FHS student comments; sports team deep in a playoff run; Mamma Mia this weekend, Fri/Sat; auditions for Central District submitted; #schcom1109; already time to order caps/gown by 11/19
- Field hockey won today, Volleyball also won today; girls soccer playing now, still 0-0 at last report; #schcom1109 winter sports start after Thanksgiving; conference Fri/Mon, off Thu due to Veterans Day; pep rally shirts on sale (until 8 PM tonight)
- FHS student acknowledges work to do to ensure a safe environment for all students, not just most; the Peace display was heartening; #schcom1109 admonish SchCom to live up to the awesome role they have, with a positive attitude
- Supt Report - doc to be posted to schools page on Weds; updates/reminders on policy and meeting process; appreciation week for school psychologists; #schcom1109 Parmenter mural work (pix to be included) ; also to be part of a More Perfect Union show on Portrait of a Graduate
- Moving to Discussion/Action - tutoring for pay, largely from conflict of interest law; i.e. tutoring by teachers of students; https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_policy_9.pdf #schcom1109
- comment on consistency of language within the text; discussion on use of 'school resources' - possible clarification on district social media accounts vs. personal account; motion amended, seconded, passes 7-0 #schcom1109
- discussion only items; approval received yesterday to get waiver on masks; discussion on how to proceed among other districts; #schcom1109 ? on how to monitor the unvaccinated individuals; FHS welcomes option; working on plan for next couple of weeks on metrics to determine
- plan once approved by #schCom1109 would be effective, time TBD right now; logistics and details to be worked
- next to Information Matters; School Wellness met today, next mtg on Dec 7; MASC resolutions passed; requesting ideas on what subcommittees are desired; Nov 18, at FHS critical conversations also to be live streamed; panel discussion on substance use, and mental health #schcom1109
- from panel to break out sessions; "hidden in plain site" room available for review/Q&A; discussion cards on how to have the difficult conversation; flyer to be shared tomorrow via multiple channels #schCom1109
- next meeting; workshop at 6, handbook for introduction to Committee; meeting begins at 7; MCAS results and updates; #schcom1109 job description for Director of Diversity, Equity and inclusion
- consent agenda - split for returning members and new members - both accepted; one 2-0, other 7-0 #schcom1109 to enter executive session, not to return to public meeting, vote to enter passes 7-0
- vote via roll call, passes #schcom1109
Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days
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| expectation of conduct set for Council Chambers |
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| newly elected School Committee |
FHS girls soccer lose; volleyball and field hockey teams win to advance in playoffs
Via @HockomockSports and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS fall sports playoff action on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021
Girls Soccer - Division 1 = #13 Brookline, 2 @ #4 Franklin, 0 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
"The team felt like mirror images of each other. From the formations to the strength of the lineups, the style of play, it was like the Spiderman meme come to life on a soccer pitch. In a game that is so evenly matched, sometimes it takes a moment of brilliance to decide the outcome.On Tuesday night at Pisini Stadium, it was Brookline that had that moment. A 59th minute strike by Eleanor Bergstein proved to be the difference, with the Warriors adding another in the final minute, to secure a 2-0 win over No. 4 seed Franklin and reach the Div. 1 quarterfinal.“They’re a good team, we’re a good team, we play very similar games, it just wasn’t our night,” said Franklin coach Jodi Klein. “It was very, very even, but that’s what every game is going to be like when you get to this level. They had two chances and they capitalized on them. If we had capitalized on the ones we had, we’d be in a different spot.”The game featured few chances for either team, but it was the Panthers who had the better looks in the first half."
Continue reading the recap -> https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-soccer-cant-finish-chances-bows-out-in-sweet-sixteen/
– For a Photo Gallery from this match -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2021-2022/Fall-2021/Franklin-Brookline-Girls-Soccer-11-09-21/
Field Hockey - Division 1 = #13 Central Catholic, 0 @ #4 Franklin, 2 – Final
– Franklin scored just minutes before halftime to jump ahead and tacked on a key insurance goal in the final moments to knock off visiting Central Catholic. After a scoreless first quarter, Franklin freshman Raena Crandall scored with just over two minutes before halftime to give the hosts the lead. Junior Kaitlyn Carney sealed the win by scoring with just under four minutes to play. Head coach Michelle Hess praised the efforts of midfielders Sophia Cuneo and Emily Carney as well as defender Kate O’Rourke for their stellar play. Megan Sullivan had four huge saves to keep the Panthers in front.
– For a Photo Gallery from this game -> https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2021-2022/Fall-2021/Franklin-Central-Catholic-Field-Hockey-11-09-21/
Volleyball - Division 1 =#16 Shrewsbury, 0 @ #1 Franklin, 3 – Final
We follow the Twitter thread from Jen Edmunds for the volleyball game (https://twitter.com/FHSTrainingRoom)
- Just about game time in Franklin. @Franklin_VBall is taking on Shrewsbury. @FHS_FH_02038 is taking on Central Catholic
- After a back and forth beginning, Franklin leads Shrewsbury 12-9 in the first set.
- Time out Shrewsbury. Panthers lead the Colonials 23-17 in Game 1
- Franklin takes game 1 25-20 over Shrewsbury.
- Franklin leads Shrewsbury 19-15 in Game 2
- Franklin takes Game 2, 25-19 over Shrewsbury. The Panthers lead the match 2-0
- Franklin leads game 3, 10-5 over Shrewsbury
- Franklin sweeps Shrewsbury 3-0, winning final game 25-8
For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/category/schedule-scoreboard/
https://hockomocksports.com/category/schedule-scoreboard/
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| Freshman Kelly O’Connor chases down a ball in the Franklin attack. The Panthers fell 2-0 to Brookline in the Round of 16. (HockomockSports.com) |
Attn Businesses: Get your ad in the Franklin Music Boosters program for this year's concert series
Franklin Music Boosters (@MusicBoostersFr) tweeted Mon, Nov 08, 2021:
Do you have a business you would like to see featured in our 2021 Concert Series Ad Book!
See the link below for further information! Deadline is 11/19!
Link to set up ad -> https://t.co/7XmBaDzLgV
Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MusicBoostersFr/status/1457778042667892741
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| Get your ad in the Franklin Music Boosters program for this year's concert series |
St Mary's Men's Faith Formation Group meeting - Nov 20
All men are welcome! St. Mary's Men's Faith Formation monthly meeting will be held November 20, 8:45-9:45 AM via Zoom.
If you enjoyed last month's Rich Young Man episode, you will certainly enjoy this month's. It will be an episode from Bishop Barron's series on Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues. This episode is entitled Pride and Humility.
As always, Bishop Barron's insights prove to be very faith-filled and practical. All our meetings are currently via Zoom and occur on the third Saturday of each month from 8:45-9:45.
For more information on Men's Faith Formation and to obtain the link for this meeting please visit https://www.stmarysfranklin.org/mens-faith-formation. Hope to see you there. All men are welcome!
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| St Mary's Men's Faith Formation - Nov 20 |
Reminder: 4th Annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Sale - orders accepted through Nov 14, 2021
Why bake when the Knights can do it for you?
The Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847 St. Mary Parish Franklin MA is running their 4th Annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Our famous bakery (same as last year) is the family owned Mann’s Orchards and Bakery. The flavors will remain the same as last year - Apple, Pecan, Pumpkin and Blueberry.
These Pies are fantastic.... outstanding flavor, aroma, and taste. We held the price so we will still have the magnificent $15.00 price per Pie. As was last year you will be able to DONATE a pie. All donations will be donated to the Franklin Senior Center for distribution at Thanksgiving time.
We will be taking Pie orders in person on just one weekend this year November 13-14, after all the Masses at St Mary Franklin. We will be set up in the back of the Church to take your Pie orders. Cash, Check or Credit Card will be accepted.
The order form is provided below. You can download, fill out and either mail or bring to the Church on the weekend of Nov 13-14.
You will be able to Pick Up your order of Thanksgiving Pies on Tuesday, November 23, from 3 PM – 8 PM at the CCD Offices at the old St. Mary's Franklin Parish Hall Center (previously the Charter School) on the 1st floor. You will see our Signs.
We are excited again this year to bring this quality product to St Mary Parish community and all our Franklin neighbors.
Please support this most worthy cause, help a senior and make your Thanksgiving Day special with a Pie (or2) from Mann’s Orchard on your dinner table this year.
Any questions, please call Jim Campbell at 508-848-8681 or Jim Lane at 774-571-9804 or Mike Swan 508-404-4792.
Thank You for your generosity and “giving back”...
Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847 Franklin, MA 02038
Order form -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZdkjDtunKkAqpNpfoP7RrQ8F1CZ-MH9q/view?usp=sharing
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| 4th Annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Sale - orders accepted through Nov 14, 2021 |
Upcoming Events at Expressions Enrichment
Upcoming events at Expressions Enrichment
Pumpkin Flower Arranging Adult Workshop
November 20th • 1pm-3pm
Express your inner floral designer with professional local floral designer Kathy Montesanti. You'll be proud to take home the beautiful design you've created or give it as a gift. Cost is $50 and includes all materials.
Come Create Hanukkah Gifts for your Family
November 18th • 4pm-6pm
November 18th • 4pm-6pm
Happy Hanukkah from your friends at Expressions! Drop off your kids to come and create Hanukkah gifts for their family. Each child will make two to three gifts. Suitable for grades K-6. Cost is $40 and includes all materials.
Ceramic Christmas Tree or Menorah Painting
November 20th • 1pm-3pm
Join us at the studio to paint a Christmas Tree or Menorah. We will get
it fired up in the kiln and have it ready for you to enjoy for the holidays!
Cost is $50 and includes all materials.
Shop 'til you Drop! Black Friday Drop off Your Kids
November 26th • 9am-12pm
Drop off your kids to come and create holiday gifts while you take advantage of the Black Friday Sales. Suitable for grades K-6. Cost is $75 and includes all materials.
Gingerbread House Decorating
December 4th • 10am-12pm
This fun event will be for a parent with a child. We will decorate a gingerbread house. All the supplies are included: house, decorating candy and fixings, and icing. You can have all the fun without the mess to clean up! Cost is $50 and includes all materials.
Register online => www.expressions-enrichment.com
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| Upcoming Events at Expressions Enrichment |
Mass Senate Unveils Mental Health ABC Act 2.0: Addressing Barriers to Care
Senate Unveils Mental Health ABC Act 2.0: Addressing Barriers to Care
Bill works in tandem with landmark investments in mental and behavioral health
to transform mental health care delivery
Today (11/09/2021), the Massachusetts Senate unveiled its Mental Health ABC Act 2.0: Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) (S2572), comprehensive legislation to continue the process of reforming the way mental health care is delivered in Massachusetts, with the goal of ensuring that people get the mental health care they need when they need it. This legislation comes at a time when the Massachusetts State Senate is making landmark investments in mental and behavioral health, including $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to transform the behavioral health sector, with $122 million dedicated to recruiting and retaining nearly 2,000 behavioral professionals.
The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 is driven by the recognition that mental health is as important as physical health for every resident of the Commonwealth and should be treated as such. The bill proposes a wide variety of reforms to ensure equitable access to mental health care and remove barriers to care by supporting the behavioral health workforce.
"This important bill will put policies place to ensure that people get the mental health care they need, when they need it and provide a national model for how we can create an integrated and comprehensive health care system that treats mental health the same as physical health," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Out of the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is reason for hope, because we are no longer talking about the need for quality mental and behavioral health care in whispers, shamed by stigma. As we all face the emotional difficulties and social isolation of the pandemic, people across our Commonwealth are talking about their struggles with mental health, and the call for quality mental health care is now a roar. I'd like to thank Senators Cyr, Friedman and Rodrigues for their hard work and collaboration on this bill, and the many advocates, individuals and families who have fought for changes to our mental health care delivery system and who have never given up."
"Too many people in Massachusetts struggle to access the mental health services they desperately need and deserve," said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. "The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 is an important step towards realizing the Senate's vision to transform how the Commonwealth addresses mental health. I am deeply grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka for her leadership and example, and to Senators Friedman and Rodrigues for their partnership in this most urgent endeavor."
"For far too long, mental health has been a forgotten component of our healthcare system despite our statutory parity mandate that calls for equitable coverage between medical and surgical treatment and mental health treatment," said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), co-chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. "This bill serves as a first step forward in addressing the persisting inequities in our delivery of mental health services that keep patients from accessing the care they need, and will provide a framework for the state to better enforce our mental health parity laws. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Senator Cyr for their thoughtful collaboration on this initiative and shared commitment to reforming our mental health care system so it is accessible, affordable, and equitable for all."
"The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 is a landmark step toward making sure people can get the mental health care they need when they need it," said Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "The Senate's targeted investments in mental health in the ARPA bill and the FY22 budget have made it clear that cost of action on this issue is far less than the cost of inaction, for the sake of all residents of the Commonwealth. I applaud Senate President Spilka for her compassionate and steadfast leadership on this issue, and Senators Cyr and Friedman for their diligent work to build upon last session's ABC Act and put forward a comprehensive bill that will ensure equitable access to mental health care for all."
Additions to the original version of the Mental Health ABC Act contained in this legislation include: guaranteeing an annual mental health wellness exam at no cost to the patient; creating an online portal that enables access to real-time data to move patients from emergency to appropriate care; establishing a complex case resolution panel to help resolve barriers to care for children with complex behavioral health needs who find themselves in the emergency room; requiring the Office of the Child Advocate and the Health Policy Commission to issue reports on child emergency department boarding; creating a standard release form; expanding access to psychiatric care by requiring the state-contracted and commercial health plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits offered through the psychiatric collaborative care model; incentivizing investments in acute psychiatric services; and establishing an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion.
The following is an overview of The Mental Health ABC Act 2.0.
Ensuring Equitable Access to Mental Health Care
Guaranteeing Annual Mental Health Wellness Exams. The idea that a person's mental health is just as important as a person's physical health is the cornerstone of this reform. This bill would codify this principle by mandating coverage for an annual mental health wellness exam, comparable to an annual physical.
Enforcing Mental Health Parity Laws. Mental health parity as a concept is simple: insurance coverage for mental health care should be equal to insurance coverage for any other medical condition. This concept has been codified in federal and state law for decades, but enforcement of the law has been challenging. As a result, inequities persist, and patients are often denied coverage for mental health treatment that is every bit as critical to managing their health as treatment for diabetes or heart disease.
This bill provides the state with better tools to implement and enforce our parity laws by creating a clear structure for the Division of Insurance to receive and investigate parity complaints to ensure their timely resolution. Other tools include parity enforcement for commercial, state-contracted and student health insurance plans, greater reporting and oversight of insurance carriers' mental health care coverage processes and policies, and reasonable penalties and alternative remedies for when an insurance company does not comply with the law.
Addressing the Emergency Department Boarding Crisis. For many adults and children in the grips of a mental health crisis, the fastest way to get help is to go to a hospital emergency department (ED). Sadly, when they need to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit, it can be days, weeks, or even months before they're admitted. Meanwhile, the person must often wait in the ED, receiving little to no psychiatric care. This is referred to as 'ED boarding' and it has increased up to 400% since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Given the severity and urgency of the state's ED boarding crisis, this bill tackles the issue in several ways, by:
- Creating an ARPA-funded online portal that enables access to real-time data on and includes a search function that allows health care providers to easily search and find open beds using a number of criteria;
- Establishing a complex case resolution panel to help resolve barriers to care for children with complex behavioral health needs and would include representatives from several state and local health and education agencies working together to ensure a child's behavioral health needs are met in a timely manner;
- Requiring all hospital EDs to have a qualified behavioral health clinician available to evaluate and stabilize a person admitted to a hospital ED with a behavioral health presentation during all operating hours;
- Directing the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to produce an annual report on child ED boarding; and
- Tasking the Health Policy Commission (HPC) with conducting a statewide pediatric behavioral health assessment every five years to inform future policymaking.
Addressing ED boarding will help families experiencing acute mental health crises receive timely care.
Reimbursing Mental Health Providers Equitably. Mental health and primary care providers are reimbursed at different rates for the same service. The bill seeks to level the playing field for reimbursement to mental health providers by requiring an equitable rate floor for evaluation and management services that is consistent with primary care.
Reforming Medical Necessity and Prior Authorization Requirements. When an adult or child arrives in an emergency department in the throes of acute mental health crises requiring immediate treatment in an appropriate setting, clinical determinations should be made by the treating clinician. In practice, however, insurance carriers impose too many restrictions on providers' clinical judgement in terms of prior approval and concurrent review requirements for mental health services.
This results in barriers to, and delays in, treatment for patients who need immediate care, creating a dysfunctional system that allows insurance companies to have more leverage in determining a patient's course of treatment than health care providers.
This bill mandates coverage and eliminates prior authorization for mental health acute treatment and stabilization services for adults and children; requires MassHealth and commercial insurance companies to follow a uniform set of criteria established by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) for medical necessity and utilization management determinations for treatments for substance use disorder (SUD); and ensures that if a health insurance company intends to change its medical necessity guidelines, the new guidelines must be easily accessible by consumers on the health insurance company's website.
This bill also establishes a special commission to bring all stakeholders to the table to study and make recommendations on the creation of a common set of medical necessity criteria to be used by health care providers and insurance carriers for mental health services.
Creating a Standard Release Form. Behavioral health providers struggle in the era of electronic health records and care coordination to create systems that simultaneously protect an individual's right to consent to share sensitive health information and allow practitioners to access the information they need to treat the individual and coordinate care. This bill would direct the development of a standard release form for exchanging confidential mental health and substance use disorder information to facilitate access to treatment by patients with multiple health care providers.
Increasing Access to Emergency Service Programs. Emergency Service Programs (ESPs), which are community-based and recovery-oriented programs that provide behavioral health crisis assessment, intervention, and stabilization services for people with psychiatric illness, are currently covered by MassHealth. The bill would require commercial insurance companies to cover ESPs as well.
Expanding Access to the Evidence-Based Collaborative Care Model. The collaborative care model delivers mental health care in primary care through a team of health care professionals, including the primary care provider, a behavioral health care manager, and a consulting psychiatrist. This evidence-based access to mental health care has proven effective, less costly, and less stigmatizing. The bill would expand access to psychiatric care by requiring the state-contracted and commercial health plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits offered through the psychiatric collaborative care model.
Reviewing the Role of Behavioral Health Managers. Some insurance companies have subcontracted mental health benefits to specialty utilization management companies for years with mixed results. The bill directs the Health Policy Commission, in consultation with the Division of Insurance, to study and provide updated data on the use of contracted mental health benefit managers by insurance carriers, often referred to as "carve-outs."
Incentivizing Investment in Acute Psychiatric Services. This bill would create an exemption from the Department of Public Health's determination of need process to incentivize health care facilities to invest in and develop more acute psychiatric services across the Commonwealth, including inpatient, community-based acute treatment, intensive community-based treatment, a continuing care unit and partial hospitalization programs.
Tracking and Analyzing Behavioral Health Expenditures. This bill includes a critical first steps toward incentivizing greater investments in mental health care within the analysis of statewide health care cost growth. Specifically, the bill directs the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to define and collect data on the delivery of mental health services to establish a baseline of current spending; and directs the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to begin tracking mental health care expenditures as part of its annual cost trends hearings.
Establishing an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion. Current behavioral health services are spread across state agencies. This dilutes the responsibility for mental health promotion and focus on the issues and undermines the important work being done. This bill would establish an Office of Behavioral Health Promotion within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to coordinate all state initiatives that promote mental, emotional, and behavioral health and wellness for residents.
Increasing Access to Care in Geographically Isolated Areas. This bill would direct the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to consider factors that may present barriers to care—such as travel distance and access to transportation—when contracting for services in geographically isolated and rural communities.
Removing Barriers to Care by Supporting the Behavioral Health Workforce
Creating a Roadmap on Access to Culturally Competent Care. This initiative builds off an academic study mandated and funded through the Commonwealth's Fiscal Year 2021 budget to review the availability of and barriers to accessing culturally competent mental health care providers. Under this provision, an interagency health equity team under the Office of Health Equity, working with an advisory council, would make annual recommendations for the next three years to improve access to, and the quality of, culturally competent mental health services. Paired with the Senate's ARPA investment of $122 million in the behavioral health workforce through loan repayment assistance programs, this roadmap will make great strides toward building a robust workforce reflective of communities' needs.
Allows for an Interim Licensure for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. The bill would create an interim licensure level for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) so that they can be reimbursed by insurance for their services and be eligible for state and federal grant and loan forgiveness programs, further increasing the number of licensed providers able to serve patients.
Expanding Mental Health Billing. This bill would allow clinicians practicing under the supervision of a licensed professional and working towards independent licensure to practice in a clinic setting. This will help to ensure quality training and supervision and encourage clinicians to stay practicing in community-based settings.
Updating the Board of Registration of Social Workers. The bill would update the membership of the Board of Registration of Social Workers to clarify that designees from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Public Health (DPH) be licensed social workers.
This legislation builds upon the original Mental Health ABC Act, passed by the Senate in 2020, important provisions of which have been signed into law, including:
- Standardizing credentialing forms, which shortens the amount of time it takes for newly hired mental and behavioral health professionals to be approved for inclusion in an insurance network, increasing access to care.
- Requiring coverage for same day care, removing a significant financial barrier to the integration of primary care and mental health.
- Creating a tele-behavioral health pilot program, which authorized three pilots for tele-behavioral health services in public high schools in the Commonwealth.
- Creating a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner fellowship pilot program, which offers additional support and training to psychiatric nurse practitioners who agree to work in community settings with underserved populations.
- Creating a mental health workforce pipeline to encourage and support individuals from diverse backgrounds to choose careers in mental health by emphasizing that it is valued and important work.
- Studying access to culturally competent care to review the availability of culturally competent mental health care providers, as well as to identify potential barriers to care for underserved cultural, ethnic and linguistic populations, the LGBTQ+ community, and others.
This legislation also comes at a time when the Massachusetts State Senate is making transformative investments in mental and behavioral health, including:
- $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to transform the behavioral health sector, with $122 million dedicated to recruiting and retaining nearly 2,000 behavioral professionals.
- $10 million annually for the newly-created Behavioral Health Outreach, Access and Support Trust Fund, which funded the highly successful More to the Story public awareness campaign.
- $10 million for the rapid creation of new inpatient mental health acute care beds, particularly new beds for children, adolescents and underserved communities.
- $15 million for Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) for children who exhibit symptoms of serious emotional disturbance; PACT uses a multidisciplinary team approach to provide acute and long term supports for individuals in the community.
- $3 million for a loan repayment assistance program to recruit and retain child and adolescent psychiatrists at community mental health and health centers.
The Senate is scheduled to debate the Mental Health ABC 2.0 Act next week.
CommonWealth Magazine coverage of the legislation released for discussion
Boston Globe coverage of proposal https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/09/metro/mass-senators-unveil-wide-ranging-mental-health-measure/
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