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H4200 • 2025

An Act authorizing a pilot for the use of psychedelics in licensed treatment facilities

An Act authorizing a pilot for the use of psychedelics in licensed treatment facilities

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The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
James J. O'Day
Last action
2026-05-28
Official status
Referred to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on patient selection criteria or the exact nature of the data to be tracked by participating clinics beyond general requirements set by the Department of Public Health.

Act Allowing Psychedelic Use in Mental Health Clinics

This act allows a pilot program where certain mental health clinics can use psychedelic drugs to treat patients under strict supervision.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a pilot program for using psychedelics in licensed mental health clinics.
  • Limits the number of participating clinics to three and requires them to focus only on mental health treatment.
  • Requires clinics to follow rules set by the Department of Public Health, including patient assessment and ongoing monitoring.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Licensed mental health clinics in Massachusetts
  • Patients with mental health issues who are part of the pilot program

Terms To Know

Pilot Program
A small-scale test to see if something works before doing it on a larger scale.
Psychedelics
Drugs that change the way you think and feel, often used in therapy for mental health issues.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The program is limited to three clinics.
  • It only applies to certain licensed mental health facilities.
  • Details about how patients will be chosen are not specified.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-28 House

    Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026

  2. 2026-03-23 House

    Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing

  3. 2026-02-09 House

    Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026

  4. 2025-10-31 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 11/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  5. 2025-06-05 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. 2025-05-15 House

    Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

  7. 2025-03-27 House

    Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act authorizing a pilot for the use of psychedelics in licensed treatment facilities
By Representative O'Day of West Boylston, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James J. O'Day for legislation to authorize a pilot program for the use of psychedelics in certain licensed treatment facilities. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.4200

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health shall establish a pilot program to allow for the monitored mental health care of clinically appropriate patients using psychedelic materials as defined by the department of public health for on-site administration by a multi-disciplinary care team in a supervised licensed mental health clinic setting. The department shall issue pilot permits to no more than three licensed mental health clinic facilities to participate in the pilot program for the purposes of establishing the best and safest clinical practices for psychedelic mental health treatment programs in the commonwealth and for the purposes of collecting patient outcomes data regarding the benefits of psychedelic pharmacotherapy. Authorization shall be given to clinics licensed in mental health services as defined by the department of public health. Eligible pilot program organizations must exclusively focus operations and treatment on mental health and cannot be subsidiaries, affiliates or members of cannabis industry organizations, psychedelic molecule development companies or pharmaceutical companies.

The department shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the operation of a supervised psychedelic pilot in a clinical setting, including but not limited to, establishing a process to apply for participation in the pilot. The regulations must include but not be limited to: the definitions and standards for clinic participation; the process of initial patient assessment and ongoing monitoring; the composition of the clinical staff and the role of a licensed physician to oversee the program; the process of ensuring coordination and medical management of psychiatric medications with prescribers outside of the participating outpatient clinical pilot; and, the process of storage, dispensing and administration of psychedelics within the participating pilot.

All pilot program participant organizations must track patient care outcomes data related to the identification, diagnosis and psychedelic treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder. These data sets must be shared with the department to assist in the refinement of best clinical protocols and final regulatory frameworks for the safe use of psychedelic material in Massachusetts.

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