The bill outlines the requirements for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Office of Medicaid (MassHealth) to ensure compliance with mental health parity laws for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) and other contracted entities. It mandates that these organizations review their administrative practices annually to confirm adherence to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and applicable state laws. The bill specifies that all MCO and Accountable Care Partnership Plan (ACPP) contracts must include language requiring a review of compliance with mental health parity provisions, and similar requirements are established for Senior Care Organizations (SCOs) and One Care plans (ICOs).

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of transparency and member rights by requiring managed care plans to include information about mental health parity in their member handbooks, detailing the grievance process for members who believe their services do not meet parity requirements. MassHealth is tasked with submitting an annual report summarizing compliance findings to the legislature by December 1 each year. The report for 2024 indicates that all managed care plans have certified their compliance with mental health parity laws, and no disparities were found between mental health and medical/surgical benefits. The bill also highlights ongoing initiatives to improve behavioral health services and access for members, including the launch of a new Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health and the introduction of a behavioral health wellness examination.