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Bill

S 1387

An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Nick Collins and 9 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill would allow physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds if they receive adequate training, expanding emergency mental health commitment authority beyond physicians.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · S 1387

Legislative bill overview

S 1387 would authorize physician assistants (PAs) to initiate psychiatric holds (involuntary emergency psychiatric commitments) in Massachusetts, a power currently reserved for physicians and certain other licensed professionals. The bill also mandates training requirements for PAs who exercise this authority.

Why is this important

Psychiatric holds are serious legal interventions that remove individuals' liberty temporarily for mental health evaluation and stabilization. Expanding who can authorize them affects both mental health crisis response capacity and individual civil liberties. Massachusetts faces documented shortages of psychiatrists and physicians in emergency settings, making this a practical workforce issue with significant ethical implications.

Potential points of contention

  • Civil liberties concern: Psychiatric holds restrict freedom without criminal conviction; expanding authorization authority to additional professionals raises due process questions about who should have this power and whether PAs' training is equivalent to physicians' for such consequential decisions
  • Training adequacy: The bill requires "adequate training" but doesn't specify content, duration, or oversight mechanisms—creating ambiguity about whether standards will be sufficient and who determines sufficiency
  • Workforce vs. clinical judgment: While addressing provider shortages is legitimate, opponents may argue this substitutes workforce convenience for clinical expertise, as psychiatry training differs substantially from PA general training

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

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