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Committee considers amendment to define “behavioral health” in S27 to avoid out‑of‑state interpretation
Summary
Members debated language added to S27 intended to define "behavioral health" so jurisdictions outside the state cannot use a broader interpretation to narrow coverage of mental health and substance‑use services; supporters said the change would close a potential loophole, while others said the term can be stigmatizing and needs more discussion.
Representative Donahue introduced an amendment to bill S27 on April 8 that would add a three‑sentence definition of the term “behavioral health” to the bill’s health‑care definitions to prevent other jurisdictions’ broader uses of the term from creating a loophole.
The amendment’s language, as explained to the committee, would (1) set out conditions that could be interpreted as part of behavioral health beyond the commonly understood categories of mental health and substance use disorders; (2) state that the term may have a stigmatizing impact and could deter individuals from seeking care; and (3)…
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