In early 2023, Massachusetts began implementing its Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform (Roadmap), a sweeping set of changes aimed at simplifying access and entry to the state’s outpatient behavioral health care system for all Massachusetts residents. The Roadmap reforms are designed to address challenges with the current behavioral health care system, including difficulty finding community-based providers and culturally relevant services, a lack of integrated mental health and addiction treatment, and a continued reliance on the emergency department for crisis and acute care.
Last month the Foundation released a report describing the key components of the Roadmap and how they are intended to improve access to behavioral health care services. It also provided an update on Roadmap implementation, described early successes and challenges, and identified opportunities to strengthen implementation moving forward.
As a follow on to the release of this report, the Foundation is hosting a webinar with the report's authors from Manatt Health on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 1-2 PM. The webinar will provide an overview of the Roadmap and key takeaways from the report.