Chapter 258

Chapter 258 of the Acts of 2014 ensures greater access to substance use disorder treatment, enhances the safe use of controlled substances, and directs research to identify best practices in monitoring addiction treatment. The law removes insurance-related administrative hurdles by eliminating the need for “prior authorization” for acute treatment and clinical stabilization services for up to 14 days for commercial insurance products and for as many as 21 days for MassHealth. The legislation also allows level-of-care decisions to remain between treating clinicians and their patients. ABH played a pivotal role in the passage of Chapter 258 which greatly expands access to addiction treatment services. ABH and our members made a compelling argument to the Legislature that insurance mandates were needed so that individuals suffering from addiction disorders could access the treatment they need.