- (A) The center must operate at least one freestanding location that is open and operated at least 40 hours a week.
- (B) A mental health center operated by a licensed community health center must be open at least 20 hours a week.
- (C) When the center is closed, after-hours coverage must be provided to triage needs and personnel must be available to offer referral to qualified professionals, emergency services, or other mechanisms for effectively responding to a crisis, in accordance with the requirements in 130 CMR 429.421(A)(5).
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Subchapter Number and Title Page
MassHealth 4. Program Regulations
4-20
Provider Manual Series (130 CMR 429.000)
Transmittal Letter Date
Mental Health Center Manual
MHC-53 9/1/2025
- (D) Centers Designated as Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Providers. Each center designated as a BHUC provider pursuant to 130 CMR 429.404(C) must offer extended availability on Mondays through Fridays outside the hours of 9:00 am–5:00 pm. At minimum, such centers must offer at least eight hours of extended availability per week during weekdays and at least two four-hour blocks of availability on weekends per month.