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S 718

An Act eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Julian Cyr

Massachusetts bill eliminates patient cost-sharing for behavioral health services to increase mental health and substance abuse treatment access, raising questions about insurance cost increases and funding sources.

Accompanied a study order, see S2931
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Bill Summary · S 718

Legislative bill overview

S 718 eliminates cost-sharing requirements (copayments, coinsurance, deductibles) for behavioral health services in Massachusetts. The bill aims to reduce financial barriers that prevent residents from accessing mental health and substance use disorder treatment services.

Why is this important

Cost-sharing is a documented barrier to mental health care access, particularly for low-income individuals and those with serious mental illness. Removing these barriers could increase treatment utilization, improve health outcomes, and potentially reduce emergency department usage and crisis interventions for untreated behavioral health conditions.

Potential points of contention

  • Insurance premium increases: Eliminating cost-sharing typically increases overall healthcare costs, which may be passed to employers, employees, or state budgets through higher insurance premiums
  • Scope definition: The bill's effectiveness depends heavily on how "behavioral health services" is defined—coverage could vary widely depending on inclusion of outpatient therapy, inpatient hospitalization, medication management, substance use treatment, and telehealth services
  • Fiscal impact and funding mechanism: The bill does not specify how the state will offset increased utilization costs or whether it applies only to state-regulated plans, potentially creating unequal coverage across different insurance types

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

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