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H 4986

An Act relative to therapeutic psilocybin treatment centers

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Owens and 1 co-sponsor

Creates regulated therapeutic psilocybin treatment centers with licensure, clinical protocols, safety oversight, and data reporting for eligible patients.

Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · H 4986

Summary of H 4986, Session 194th (Massachusetts)

Purpose and intent

  • The Act is titled: An Act relative to therapeutic psilocybin treatment centers.
  • Its primary objective is to establish a framework for the use of psilocybin in a therapeutic treatment context within designated treatment centers, under state regulation.
  • The bill aims to create oversight, licensure, and operational standards to enable supervised, medicalized use of psilocybin for eligible patients, aligning with emerging therapeutic practices.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment of therapeutic centers: Creates a structure for designated centers that would administer psilocybin in a controlled, clinical setting.
  • Licensing and regulation: Establishes licensure requirements for centers, and may specify qualifications for clinicians, administrative staff, and facility standards.
  • Clinical protocols: Likely requires standardized treatment protocols, including patient screening, informed consent, dosing guidelines, monitoring during sessions, and aftercare.
  • Safety and compliance: Sets safety measures, adverse event reporting, and quality assurance processes to ensure patient safety and program integrity.
  • Patient eligibility and access: Defines which patients may access therapy under the program (e.g., adults with qualifying conditions or treatment-resistant conditions), and may outline referral processes.
  • Data collection and reporting: Requires data submission to state agencies for program evaluation, outcomes tracking, and potential public health reporting.
  • Funding and administration: Addresses funding mechanisms, potential state oversight, and administrative responsibilities for the program, including timelines for implementation.
  • Enforcement and penalties: Specifies enforcement provisions for noncompliance and potential penalties or corrective actions.

Who would be affected

  • Patients: Adults who meet eligibility criteria could access supervised psilocybin therapy within approved centers.
  • Clinicians and treatment providers: Licensed professionals operating within therapeutic centers would be involved in delivering treatment and adhering to protocols.
  • Treatment centers: New or restructured facilities designated to provide psilocybin therapy under the act.
  • State agencies: Public Health and Health Care Financing committees/agencies would oversee licensure, regulation, compliance, and data reporting.
  • Payers: Potential impact on insurance coverage and reimbursement arrangements, contingent on program design and funding.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Committee actions: Public Health Committee reported favorably on January 28, 2026; referred to Health Care Financing. Co-sponsors include Steve Owens and Lindsay Sabadosa.
  • Reporting date extension: The bill’s reporting date has been extended to December 31, 2026, indicating additional time for deliberation and potential amendments.
  • Draft iterations: On January 28, 2026, there were new drafts (H2506 and H2532) associated with the measure, suggesting revisions or related bills influencing the final framework.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed through committee processes, potential amendments, and floor debate, with further timelines dependent on legislative scheduling.

Notes

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated focus on regulated, therapeutic use of psilocybin within centers, emphasizing patient safety, clinical protocol, and regulatory oversight.
  • Specific numeric details (e.g., patient eligibility thresholds, licensing fees, dosing limits) are not provided in the available summary and would be clarified in the full text of the bill or subsequent amendments.

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

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