Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

Representative Christine Barber’s bill to require health plans to regularly update their provider directories was included in an omnibus Children’s Health and Wellness bill that was passed in the House and Senate last week.

Both the House and Senate passed versions of a package earlier this year, containing many important provisions to support the health and wellbeing of children across Massachusetts. A Conference Committee, comprised of members of both branches, recently finalized a compromise package, which includes language championed by Representative Barber (Somerville and Medford) on an important initiative to improve access to care.

Health plans publish provider directories to help patients find care, but too often these are inaccurate and are not updated regularly. This problem, often called “ghost networks,” is true especially for families with children seeking behavioral health care services. Families often face a long list of providers who have moved, closed their practices, no longer accept patients, or do not specialize in the right kind of care. The initiative that Rep. Barber has advocated for will help patients find the right health care provider easily and quickly.

“Even with our strong health care system in Massachusetts, many people still have some problems accessing care,” Rep. Barber said on the floor of the House during the bill’s passage. “Making it easier for families to find care through accurate information is an important way to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes. I am thankful to my colleagues and community advocates who worked with me to ensure that this provision was included in the final bill.”

In addition to provider directories, the Children’s Health and Wellness bill also includes a provision to allow children in foster care to remain on MassHealth coverage until age 26, and creates childhood behavioral health centers of excellence to help families connect families connect to providers and services.

Having been passed by both chambers, this bill now awaits the Governor’s signature.

— Office of Rep. Christine P. Barber