Governor Signs Bill Expanding Access to Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Support

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey has signed an Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure, which makes treatment and recovery support more affordable and accessible for residents living with substance use disorder.

The legislation expands access to lifesaving opioid reversal medications like naloxone and ensures they are covered by health insurance. It also introduces measures to support the well-being of infants with prenatal substance exposure and their caregivers.

"Over the course of my career, I’ve been motivated by those who have tragically lost loved ones to the opioid crisis that is impacting all of our communities. Their stories have served as important reminders of the urgent need to increase treatment, prevention, and recovery services to save lives," said Healey. "I’m proud to sign this bill that will expand access to lifesaving overdose reversal medications and coaching throughout the recovery process. I’m grateful to our partners in the Legislature for their leadership in making sure Massachusetts continues to be a national leader in the fight against the opioid crisis."

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Mandatory insurance coverage for opioid reversal drugs: Health plans must cover emergency opioid antagonists (EOAs) like naloxone and Narcan without cost-sharing or prior authorization. Hospitals and treatment facilities are required to educate patients on EOAs and provide at least two doses upon discharge for those with a history of overdose or opioid use disorder.
• Life insurance protections: Life insurance companies cannot limit or deny coverage based on EOA history.
• Expanded non-opioid pain treatment options: Insurance providers must ensure adequate coverage for pain management services, including non-opioid alternatives, without prior authorization.
• Recovery coaching support: Health plans must cover recovery coach services without cost-sharing or prior authorization, meeting at least MassHealth reimbursement rates.
• Recovery coach licensure: Establishes licensing and oversight for recovery coaches through the Department of Public Health (DPH), including peer support programs and studies on barriers to certification and credentialing.
• Harm reduction protections: Provides criminal and civil liability protections for individuals using or providing fentanyl test strips or other drug-testing equipment in good faith.
• Support for substance-exposed infants: Introduces collaborative assessments of parental capacity and infant safety, ensuring that stable recovery does not automatically result in reports of abuse or neglect.

Berkshire Organizations Celebrate Sucessess, New Locations in 2024

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025

Second Street Second Chances in Pittsfield celebrates renovated and expanded space to provide resources and training for people who've done their time and are trying to reintegrate into the community.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In 2024, Berkshire County organizations saw new locations and successes in their fields.  

Downtown Pittsfield saw some new tenants — in fact, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. even relocated to North Street to be right on the pulse of activity.

Last month, 1Berkshire announced that it had sold its property at 66 Allen St. after 12 years and will move to the second floor of Crawford Square on North Street.

"It was not for lack of a fondness of the space. We love Central Station but like many other landlords, as we owned the building, we reached a point kind of post-pandemic where making those numbers with finding tenants and keeping commercial space full was becoming challenging," President and CEO Jonathan Butler said at the organization's annual meeting.

"And as a nonprofit where that's not primary to our mission, we made the decision that moving on from owning our own real estate was probably the best move. We actually quickly were able to identify a buyer and closed in August."

Moving into the space is another prominent local organization: the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

In mid-December, the domestic violence program and rape crisis center moved its main office from 43 Francis Ave. to 66 Allen St. Its satellite offices at 168 Main St. in Great Barrington and 61 Main St. in North Adams will continue to operate as normal.

The organization outgrew the former office's capacity and after months of searching for solutions, the EFC purchased the building with a mortgage from Lee Bank in August.