COVID-19 Email Update (4/22/20)
I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! I wanted to provide you with an update on the state’s response to COVID-19. Click on the link below to view my latest email update, which includes information on legislation recently passed by the Senate and House, the state’s new COVID-19 data dashboard, unemployment assistance, job opportunities, health insurance information, and more!
COVID-19 Email Update (4/11/20)
I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! I wanted to provide you with an update on the state’s response to COVID-19. Click on the link below to view my latest email update, which includes information on legislation recently passed by the Senate, the state’s new Nursing Home Family Resource line, the new Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund, unemployment assistance, small business relief, domestic violence and sexual assault resources, and more!
Advocates hail AG Maura Healey’s efforts to improve mental health parity; insurers argue laws remain ambiguous
Attorney General Maura Healey announced settlements resolving allegations that three health insurance companies — Harvard Pilgrim, Fallon and AllWays Health Partners — violated the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. She also announced agreements to improve behavioral health access with four other companies: Beacon Health Strategies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Optum and Tufts Health Plan.
Sen. Cindy Friedman, who has spoken out about her efforts to get mental health treatment for her family, applauded Healey’s office for addressing what she called a lack of parity compliance.
Friedman also said the agreements help make the case that the Legislature should pass the Senate’s own parity bill, the Mental Health ABC Act, that passed earlier this month. “I’m hopeful that the Legislature will recognize the seriousness and urgency of the issue highlighted by the attorney general today and take appropriate action this session,” she said in a statement.
Philly to open country’s first safe injection facility. Could Mass. be next?
BOSTON — As Philadelphia announced it will open the country’s first safe injection site in South Philly, legislation is underway at the State House to open sites in Massachusetts.
“I think it’s good news and I’m glad the city is moving forward on a safe injection facility,” said Senator Cindy Friedman. Friedman served on the state’s task force studying safe injection sites. She says while she’s happy Philly is opening a facility, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re much closer to getting one in Mass.
“I think it will be a great test for everybody. I’m not sure it will have a huge influence on Massachusetts because I know that our U.S. Attorney has vowed that he won’t be swayed by the decision,” she said.
Everything You Need to Know About the Mental Health ABC Act
The Senate recently passed the Mental Health: Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) Act, a comprehensive bill aimed at reforming the mental health care system in our state. I had the pleasure of working closely with Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, and Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Chair Julian Cyr in crafting and passing this important piece of legislation, and I’m so pleased with the product of our work. The bill is now before the House of Representatives for consideration. Throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 legislative session, I will continue to advocate for this important bill – among the many other bills I’m working on this session – because I know how critical it is to my constituents in the 4th Middlesex district and to residents across Massachusetts.
For those who still have questions about the bill or want to learn more about why this bill is so important to our district and the Commonwealth, please click on the following link:
Early voting in Massachusetts starts today!
Early voting for the 2020 Presidential Primary Election starts today in Massachusetts! Hours vary by city and town. Check out the early voting schedule for Arlington, Billerica, Burlington, Lexington and Woburn below or visit http://MassEarlyVote.com. If you are unable to vote early, be sure make a plan to vote on Super Tuesday – March 3, 2020.
If you have any questions about upcoming elections or the voting process, please visit the Elections page on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm.
Friedman, Cyr talk about the Mental Health ABC Act on The Horse Race
‘Mental health needs to be for everyone’: Massachusetts Senate passes bill to improve behavioral health care access
The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill that would bring the state closer to providing behavioral health services that are as accessible as physical health care.
For its lead proponents, the legislation was personal. Sen. Cindy Friedman, who authored the bill with Cyr, said she found the mental health system to be disconnected, difficult and costly as she sought treatment for her child.
The bill’s passage comes as Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders promote their own health care bill, which calls for increased spending on primary, geriatric and behavioral health care services.
Go the distance for mental health parity
Mental health parity — treating mental and physical illnesses with equal seriousness, concern, and coverage — has been the law of the land for decades. But changing laws is easy; changing actual clinical practice and the health care system that supports it is far more difficult. This week the Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to vote on a package of legislation aimed at bringing actual practice into the 21st century .
“Our system is broken,” said Senator Cindy Friedman, cochair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “Mental health has long been treated as the stepchild of the health care system.”
But breaking that pattern won’t be easy. Friedman cites the problem of children with acute mental illness who may be “boarded” in an emergency room for weeks. But that problem won’t be solved by having a psychiatrist on call or an insurance company that won’t balk at paying the bill without prior authorization.