Last month House Speaker Ronald Mariano re-appointed Rep. Adrian Madaro as Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
This will be Rep. Madaro’s second time serving in this role. Rep. Madaro was first appointed to lead this committee in 2021 at the beginning of the last legislative session.
The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery considers all matters concerning behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder, including prevention and early intervention, treatment, and recovery services.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue working on these critical issues that affect people’s lives and wellbeing,” said Madaro. “Mental health and behavioral health are just as important as physical health, and there’s still more work to do to provide everyone in Massachusetts access to affordable, compassionate and quality on-demand care.”
Last session, Representative Madaro helmed the House’s efforts to pass a comprehensive mental health bill in Massachusetts. The Mental Health ABC Act: Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) produced the largest reforms to mental health care in decades. It was signed into law by former Governor Charlie Baker last August.
The comprehensive legislation continues the process of improving the way mental health care is delivered in the state. This legislation enforces existing mental health parity laws, addresses the emergency department boarding crisis, strengthens school-based mental health programs, and invests in the behavioral health workforce.
“I am incredibly proud of the work we did on the Mental Health ABC bill last session, and the effect it will have on reducing barriers to resources, support, and treatment residents need for their overall wellbeing,” said Rep. Madaro. “I look forward to continuing to build upon the work we did last session to ensure that we are addressing the most urgent needs of people and communities facing mental and behavioral health challenges across the Commonwealth”.
Source: Office of state Representative Madaro.