An Act relative to health care quality for children and youth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira

Requires health care for youth in DYS custody to meet current pediatric standards (AAP), with contract monitoring to boost access, quality, and continuity of care.

House concurred

Overview

SB/Senate Docket No. 2002, titled “An Act relative to health care quality for children and youth,” proposes enhanced health care standards for children in the custody of the Department of Youth Services (DYS). The bill was introduced on January 17, 2025, presented by Senator Jacob R. Oliveira, and is now in a status of House concurrence. The package projects higher consistency with pediatric care standards, emphasizing preventive care, health promotion, and continuity of care before and after release.

Key Provisions

Section 2 – Health care standards for committed youth: The bill amends Chapter 18A, Section 2, to require physical health and mental health services for youth in state custody to meet or exceed current pediatric community-level standards of care. These standards are to be aligned with guidelines such as those of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The standard includes:

Preventive health care
Health promotion
Continuity of health care provided before and after release

Section 6 – Monitoring and enforcement of health care contracts: The bill amends Chapter 18A, Section 6 to add that the responsible entity (in the context of the department’s programs) shall monitor and enforce physical and mental health care contracts to improve access and quality for children in the department’s custody.

Affected Parties

Primary: Children and youth in the custody of the Department of Youth Services.

Healthcare Providers and Contractors: Entities delivering physical and mental health services to DYS youth; subject to enhanced standards and contract enforcement.

Department of Youth Services: Likely roles include oversight, contract management, and ensuring compliance with pediatric care standards.

Enforcement and Oversight

The bill strengthens oversight by requiring adherence to pediatric standards and by instituting explicit monitoring and enforcement of health care contracts. The exact administrative lead for enforcement is tied to the DYS programs referenced in Section 6, reinforcing accountability for contract performance and care quality.

Timeline and Status

Introduced: March 10, 2025

Filed: January 17, 2025

Legislative Actions: Referred to the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities (2025-03-10); House concurred (same date listed)

Current Status: House concurred; bill remains a proposed measure pending any further legislative action or enactment.

Impact and Implications

Expected outcome is improved health outcomes and continuity of care for youth in state custody, aligning services with pediatric best practices (AAP guidelines) and strengthening contract performance oversight.

No explicit funding provisions are shown in the text provided; future iterations may address budgeting or implementation timelines.

This summary captures the bill’s intent, core provisions, affected groups, and procedural status to aid readers in understanding its potential effects on health care quality for youth in state custody.

Bill