MHLAC legislative efforts are described below. To become more involved, each fact sheet contains contact information for the lead attorney. and be sure to follow our facebook page for updates, upcoming hearings and the need for individuals to testify.

Continuity of Care

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Click here for link to bill text and history

What’s the problem?

Individuals seeking mental health treatment and support go to great strides to develop a trusting relationship with their provider. Having someone you can trust is extremely important to accomplish the work and gain the tools to manage one’s health and well-being. Unfortunately, current law provides for very limited continuity of care when a clinician or psychiatrist is no longer in an insurer’s network (e.g., you or your employer changes insurance plan or your provider drops out of the network).

What this bill will do

MHLAC believes this bill will not incur any additional costs for insurers. There will be a reimbursement protocol to follow providing for reimbursement to out-network providers as well as allowing for a higher co-payment when the insurer can demonstrate the heightened cost for the individual to continue with a certain provider who is no longer in-network. Since the therapeutic relationship will be maintained, continuity of care will improve mental health outcomes.

Mental Health Parity for Disability Insurance Policies

Click here for Fact Sheet 

Click here for more information 

Click here for link to bill text and history

What’s the problem?

When individuals with short- and long-term disability policies seek wage replacement benefits, a majority of private insurers limit benefits for those being treated for mental illness (i.e., deny benefits altogether, or terminate wage replacement much sooner than is done for insureds with physical disabilities), even though people with psychiatric disabilities have paid the same premiums as others. 

What this bill will do

H. 485 will ban disability insurers in Massachusetts from discriminating against persons with psychiatric disabilities. MHLAC and numerous other organizations and legislators are supporting a bill to ban discrimination by disability (wage replacement) insurers against people with psychiatric disabilities. For testimony on the identical bill that was previously filed, click here .

Parental Discrimination

 Click here for Fact Sheet 

Click here for link to bill text and history

What’s the problem?

Capable parents with disabilities are denied the right to raise their children. Parents with disabilities are more likely to lose custody of their children after divorce. Removal rates of children from parents with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities as well as parents with sensory or physical disabilities are higher than the general population which illustrates blatant discrimination. 

What this bill will do

This bill will require courts to determine whether or not a parent’s disability causes harm to their child, by requiring written findings and will also require courts to determine whether the harm to the child can be alleviated by adaptive equipment or supportive services for the parent. This will result in more families remaining intact while also identifying, engaging, and addressing the family’s needs.

Student Arrests

Incorporated into the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018, MHLAC with the Coalition for Smart Responses to Student Behavior waged a long-term campaign to reduce the number of students arrested in schools. The Coalition supported two important provisions of the recently enacted Criminal Justice Reform Act. The first abolished the “crime” of “disturbing a school assembly.” The second required any local police and school departments who seek to have police present in schools to develop a memorandum of understanding that forbids police enforcement of school rules. MHLAC working with the Coalition to monitor and enforce these provisions of the new law.