Legal Authority: Chapter 208, Section 101 of the Acts of 2018
Purpose: Review and make recommendations regarding recovery coaching in the commonwealth. The commission shall review training opportunities for recovery coaches and recommend the standards for credentialing a recovery coach, including whether recovery coaches should be subject to a board of registration through the department of public health. The commission shall gather all relevant data related to recovery coaches, including, but not limited to: (i) the total number of recovery coaches in the commonwealth; (ii) the number of people receiving compensation as recovery coaches in the commonwealth; (iii) the average and median compensation for a recovery coach; (iv) the average and median caseload for a recovery coach; and (v) the projected need for certified recovery coach services. The commission shall develop recommendations for a streamlined process to certify recovery coaches and adequate protections to ensure unauthorized individuals are not engaging in the practice of recovery coaching.
15 Members:
- the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair;
- the commissioner of public health;
- the director of Medicaid or a designee;
- 1 person appointed by the speaker of the house;
- 1 person appointed by the senate president;
- 1 representative from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc.;
- 1 representative from the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, Inc., who shall be a psychiatrist specializing in addiction;
- 1 representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.;
- 1 representative from the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, Inc.; and
- 6 persons who shall be appointed by the secretary of health and human services,
- 1 of whom shall have expertise in training recovery coaches,
- 1 of whom shall be a community provider who employs recovery coaches,
- 1 of whom shall represent a hospital that employs recovery coaches,
- 1 of whom shall be a family member to an individual with a substance use disorder,
- 1 of whom shall currently be employed as a recovery coach and 1 of whom shall be a consumer of recovery coach services.
Reporting:
Commission shall submit its findings and recommendations, together with drafts of legislation, if any, necessary to carry those recommendations into effect, to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery not later than 1 year from the effective date of this act.