A bill to be debated by the Massachusetts Senate next week would provide residents free annual mental health exams, among other reforms, and dedicate $122 million to hiring nearly 2,000 mental health professionals, the Associated Press reported…

…While Massachusetts has made strides in expanding health coverage, many residents still face barriers to accessing the care they need, particularly behavioral health care, according to Amy Rosenthal, executive director of the advocacy group Health Care for All.

Rosenthal said the Senate bill “seeks to address these barriers through several levers, including enhancing health insurance coverage and parity provisions, building and diversifying the workforce, addressing the emergency department boarding crisis, and increasing access for especially underserved populations.”

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