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HD 6034

A communication from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (see item 5046-0000 of Section 2 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting the Department of Mental Health’s report on the Distribution of Funds for fiscal year 2026

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill provides FY2026 DMH funding by adult and child populations across five areas, showing per-population spending and equity-aligned resource distribution.

Placed on file
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Bill Summary · HD 6034

Overview

  • Bill: HD 6034, Session 194th, Massachusetts
  • Jurisdiction: Department of Mental Health (DMH) within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services
  • Trigger: Communications from the DMH pursuant to FY2026 budget directive (Line Item 5046-0000 Equity Analysis)
  • Status: Placed on file (2026-05-14)

This bill transmits the DMH FY26 Report on the Distribution of Funds, detailing how adult and child/adolescent mental health resources are allocated across five geographic service areas and how those allocations relate to population need and service delivery.

Purpose and Intent

  • To provide the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means with a detailed distribution of DMH funding for FY2026, broken out by adult and child/adolescent populations, service areas, and the types of mental health services supported.
  • To assess progress toward an equitable distribution of resources across geographic areas, using updated population and prevalence data.
  • To illustrate how funds align with planned populations (prevalence estimates of serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance) and the types of services delivered (community, inpatient, IRTP, etc.).

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Equity Analysis Framework

    • Replaces earlier allocations with an updated methodology using 2024 census data (city/town level) and 2024 prevalence estimates.
    • Adult planning population estimated using 2024 census figures and NSDUH-based prevalence for Major Depressive Disorder with Severe Impairment (SMI).
    • Child/adolescent planning population estimated using 2024 census figures and NSDUH-based prevalence for Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED).
    • Acknowledges DMH’s “Raise the Age” initiative: services available up to age 22 (or younger when appropriate).

  • Spending and Resource Allocation (Adults)

    • Distribution of FY2025 actuals (as the basis) across five DMH geographic areas:
    • MB: Metro Boston
    • WM: Western Massachusetts
    • SE: Southeastern Massachusetts
    • CM: Central Massachusetts
    • NE: Northeastern Massachusetts
    • Allocation includes:
    • Community vs. hospital spending
    • Inpatient resource utilization and bed days
    • Pharmaceutical costs (via State Office of Pharmacy) and D15 workers’ compensation chargebacks
    • Adjusted total spending and resources per adult planning population
    • Example outputs include per-area resources per adult planning population and total adjusted spending:
    • MB: ~$5,404 per 'adult planning population' (in thousands for total adjusted)
    • WM: ~$3,137 per adult planning population
    • SE: ~$2,513 per adult planning population
    • CM: ~$2,392 per adult planning population
    • NE: ~$2,465 per adult planning population
    • Overall adult resources: approximately $1.002 billion total adjusted across areas.

  • Spending and Resource Allocation (Children/Adolescents)

    • Similar area-based breakdown for child/adolescent spending and planning populations.
    • Projections and actuals based on FY2025 data, distributed by:
    • Inpatient and IRTP bed days
    • Community and hospital spending
    • D15 and SOPS-related costs allocated proportionally
    • Per-child/adolescent planning population resource levels (illustrative):
    • MB: ~$1,690 per child/adolescent planning population
    • WM: ~$2,364 per child/adolescent planning population
    • SE: ~$1,138 per child/adolescent planning population
    • CM: ~$1,625 per child/adolescent planning population
    • NE: ~$1,291 per child/adolescent planning population
    • Total estimated child/adolescent resources: approximately $168.9 million across areas.

  • Data and Methodology

    • Uses DMH area prevalence estimates and NSDUH-based prevalence to derive planning populations.
    • Provides both “spending per planning population” and “total adjusted spending” comparisons to assess equity.
    • Clarifies that certain spending (e.g., some child/adolescent spending not in 5042-5000, state-operated inpatient resources, D15 costs) is treated separately in calculating per-population resources.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Affected Populations:
    • Adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI)
    • Children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED), up to age 22 under Raise the Age
  • Geographic Areas:
    • Metro Boston (MB)
    • Western Massachusetts (WM)
    • Southeastern Massachusetts (SE)
    • Central Massachusetts (CM)
    • Northeastern Massachusetts (NE)
  • Providers and Programs:
    • Community-based services
    • Hospital-based inpatient care
    • Intensive Residential Treatment Programs (IRTP)
    • Continuing care inpatient resources
    • State-operated DMH facilities
    • Pharmacy services via SOPS
    • Workers’ compensation chargebacks (D15)

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The FY2026 Equity Analysis report was prepared and submitted in February 2026; the accompanying transmittal letters from the DMH Acting Commissioner (Beth Lucas) were dated March 17, 2026.
  • The report responds to a FY2026 budget provision requiring the distribution of funds by adult and child planning population and by service type, with updates to data reflecting 2024 population and prevalence figures.
  • The report is submitted to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means (both House and Senate) as part of the legislative process for budget oversight and funding decisions.

Notes

  • The document references detailed attachments and charts (e.g., bed-day utilization, per-capita spending, and area-specific charts) that provide the granular numerics behind the summaries above.
  • The overarching aim is to promote an equitable, data-driven allocation of DMH resources across Massachusetts’ geographic areas, aligned with current population needs and service delivery structures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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