You must enable cookies for this web site to function properly. Action Alert: CMHC Priority Legislation needs Cosponsors! As the 2015-2016 legislative session begins, the Children’s Mental Health Campaign continues its tradition of advocating for policy to improve the lives of children and families in the Commonwealth by ensuring access to timely, quality behavioral health care services. Please take action today to ensure that your state Representative and Senator cosponsor this important slate of children's mental health priorities! Recipients Your State Senator or SenatorsYour State Representative or Representatives Contact *Required fields * Title: Mr. Ms. Mrs. Miss Dr. * First Name: * Last Name: * Your Email: * Address 1: Address 2: * City: * State / Province: Choose a State AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY AS FM GU MH MP PR PW VI * ZIP / Postal Code: * Phone Number: Remember me. What's this? Thank you for joining the Advocacy Action Center. We will be in touch with you periodically about issues important to the children and families we serve. Message * Subject: Dear [Decision Maker], * Personalize your message I am writing as a constituent asking for your support on bills that are essential to improving the lives of children and families in the commonwealth. Please sign on as a co-sponsor of the following bills, which are priorities of mine and the Children's Mental Health Campaign (CMHC). HD 1393 - An Act to Protect Children's Mental Health Services Lead Sponsors: Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan and Representative Elizabeth A. Malia This provision establishes the position of Children's Mental Health Ombudsman in the Office of the Child Advocate. The role of the ombudsman will be to monitor and ensure compliance with relevant child mental health statutes, regulations, rules, and policies and receive, investigate, and resolve complaints filed on behalf of a child. HD 1016 - An Act Regarding Proportional Payments of the MA Child Psychiatric Access Project Lead Sponsors: Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan and Representative Ruth B. Balser The MA Child Psychiatric Access Project (MCPAP) provides primary care providers, who are on the front lines in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, access to mental health consultations with a team comprised of child psychiatrists, psychologists and/or social workers. This bill requires commercial insurers to contribute to the funding of this program at a rate equal to the participation of their membership. Payments will be collected through an assessment which is similar to the assessment for immunizations. SD 808 - An Act Relative to Preventing Adolescent Substance Abuse by Expanding SBIRT Lead Sponsors: Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan and Representative Kay Khan Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a set of tools that helps identify unhealthy alcohol or drug use and guides follow-up counseling and treatment. With adolescents, SBIRT is an effective prevention and early intervention strategy. The bill requires all schools to conduct screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for substance use to all students, using a validated tool, at least one time annually in grades 8 or 9, and again in grade 11. HD 1421 - An Act Relative to Health Policy Commission Oversight of Insurer Transactions Lead Sponsors: Senator Jason M. Lewis and Representative Elizabeth A. Malia In 2012, the Massachusetts Payment Reform Law (c. 224) created the Health Policy Commission a new, independent state agency focused on reducing health care costs and improving the quality of patient care. One of HPC's responsibilities is to review mergers, acquisitions, and other significant transactions involving healthcare providers to determine if a transaction would have a negative impact on health care costs or the competitive market. This bill would expand the scope of HPC reviews to include transactions involving health insurers and behavioral health managers. HD 826 - An Act to Increase Access to Children's Mental Health Services in the Community Lead Sponsors: Senator Jason M. Lewis and Representative Ruth B. Balser This legislation requires commercial insurance carriers to provide coverage for wraparound services similar to those provided by the state through the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). For more information about these bills please contact the Children's Mental Health Campaign at cmhc@mspcc.org, or 617-587-1513. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP]