Parent Professional Advocacy League

There has been a great deal of discussion around restructuring Medicaid behavioral health in Massachusetts. PAL wrote a letter to EOHHS which outlined our concerns around children and adolescents with serious and complex needs (kids with serious mental health needs and kids in the care and custody of the state).

Read PAL's letter and position paper.

The Massachusetts legislature has been restructured and formed several new committees. Some of these new committees are holding informational hearings and asking

state agencies, organizations and other interested groups

to come and discuss what they consider to be the most pressing issues. PAL was invited to submit testimony to

the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee as well
as the Children and Families Committee.

Read the Testimony of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League at the oversight hearing on the Mental Health Parity Law -- April 3, 2006. This hearing was held to find out how well the parity law is working and what challenges still remain.

Read the Testimony of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League at the oversight hearing on children's mental health, March 6, 2006.

Read the Testimony of Parent/Professional Advocacy

League for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Committee Informational Hearing - May 9, 2005

Read the Testimony of Parent/Professional Advocacy

League for the Children and Families Committee

Informational Hearing - May 9, 2005

Testimony for Substance Abuse Parity
Although legislation was passed 5 years ago to increase the insurance benefit for mental health (often referred to as the Mental Health Parity Law), the benefit for substance abuse treatment has remained the same. Many adolescents in the PAL network are reported to use substances, often to self-medicate for their mental health needs. Their ability to receive substance abuse treatment is limited by their insurance benefit.

An Act Relative to Reimbursment for Drugs to Treat
Mental Illness
Medications are often a front line treatment for kids with mental health needs. It is important that access to psychiatric medications be simple and straightforward. However, policies are sometimes implemented which create barriers and this in turn can impact kids and their families negatively. PAL recently provided testimony on legislation around this issue.

S126, An Act to Ensure Parents of Children Prescribed Psychotropic Drugs Receive Adequate Information
This legislation was co-filed by the Citizen's Commission for Human Rights, a group that traditionally opposes the use of psychotropic medication for children. Although this legislation appears benign, PAL took the position that it would create an addtional hoop for families to jump through when their children were prescribed medication.

H 862, An Act to Impose a Civil Fine for the Possession of Marijuana
This legislation would change simple possession of a small amount of marijuana to a civil offense. This would result in a ticket and a fine but no criminal record. PAL testified--based on many email opinions from its members -- that families want their children to have treatment for their mental health and substance use needs and consequences for their behaviors, but not a record.