Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Health System with 2 hospitals across 1 state

Health System Overview

Health SystemMassachusetts Department of Mental Health
Total Hospitals2
Commercial/Acute Hospitals0
Total Beds211
Commercial/Acute Beds0
HeadquartersWorcester, MA
Websitemass.gov/dmh

Hospitals by Type

Psychiatric
2 hospitals
100% of health system

Teaching Status

50%
Teaching
Teaching Hospitals: 1
Non-Teaching Hospitals: 1
Teaching hospitals serve as educational institutions for medical professionals while providing patient care.

Hospital Locations

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO

Hospitals in this Health System

HospitalTypeBedsTeachingRecently Joined
Taunton State HospitalPsychiatric 45NoNo
Worcester Recovery Center and HospitalPsychiatric166YesNo

Recent News

Jun 16, 2025
Recent discussions in Massachusetts have highlighted tensions between mental health advocates and private insurers regarding the coverage and cost of 'wraparound' services for children with complex mental health needs. Mental health advocates are pushing for legislation that would mandate coverage for these intensive, coordinated services, arguing that they are crucial for preventing more expensive interventions like emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays. They contend that private insurers have a financial incentive to delay or deny coverage for these services, effectively shifting the cost burden onto the state and taxpayers when patients eventually require more acute care, often through Medicaid. Insurers, such as Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, have expressed concerns about the potential administrative burden and cost of such mandates. While the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is not explicitly named as a direct party in a dispute within this specific news story, the outcome of this legislative push and the ongoing dialogue between advocates and insurers directly impacts the landscape of mental health care access and funding within the state, which falls under the purview of the DMH. The advocates argue that despite families having private insurance, they often cannot access these necessary services until a crisis point is reached, leading to reliance on state-funded programs.
Jun 04, 2025
UMass Memorial Health, a major healthcare provider in Worcester, is reportedly facing significant financial difficulties, including an operating loss of $86.5 million for the six months ending in March. This financial strain is impacting its operations, including a hiring freeze for non-clinical roles and the closure of two programs at its affiliate, Community Healthlink, which provides mental health and substance use services in the region. The health system cited several reasons for its losses, notably uncertainties tied to Medicaid reimbursements and a deficit in the state's Health Safety Net fund. The Health Safety Net fund, which helps cover care costs for the uninsured and underinsured, is funded in part by hospitals and insurance companies. The expected substantial deficit in this fund is a contributing factor to UMass Memorial Health's financial challenges, indirectly highlighting issues within the system involving healthcare providers, government payers like Medicaid, and other payers contributing to the safety net.
May 29, 2025
The Annual Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Research Centers of Excellence Conference is scheduled to take place on May 29, 2025, hosted by UMass Chan Medical School. The theme for the 2025 conference is "Promoting Youth Mental and Behavioral Health: Understanding and Addressing Risk and Protective Factors to Improve Youth Well-Being and Outcomes." The conference serves as a platform for sharing research conducted by the two DMH-funded research centers of excellence established in 2018, with the goal of informing and benefiting DMH clients, their families, staff, and providers. The event emphasizes community-engaged research and includes perspectives from individuals with lived experience in the mental health system.
May 02, 2025
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Young Adult Access Centers were highlighted as a successful model for supporting young adults aged 16 to 26 with mental health and co-occurring behavioral health challenges. These 10 centers across the state offer drop-in services, peer mentoring, and behavioral health assistance without requiring a clinical referral or insurance. The centers utilize aspects of the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model and are funded by state and federal grants, providing free services in high-need areas. Staff includes trained peer mentors. This initiative demonstrates a focus on community-based support and outreach to a specific demographic.
Apr 30, 2025
The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is hiring a contracted Business Intelligence & Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) Data Analyst Lead within its Data and Analytics Unit. This role involves providing technical expertise in extracting, transforming, and loading data to build and maintain data solutions and pipelines for the department. The ETL Analyst Lead will work closely with Information Technology teams and business units to design, develop, and optimize data integration processes, with the goal of ensuring the availability and integrity of data across DMH systems. The position requires knowledge of Agile development methodologies, SDLC, ETL and data integration project relevant software design patterns, data analysis, query design, data visualization, and statistical analysis skills to support decision-making. Experience with software testing methodologies for ETL processes and strong problem-solving skills for troubleshooting and optimizing ETL pipelines are also necessary. The role is crucial for translating business needs into technical solutions and collaborating across departments.

Executive Leadership

Brooke Doyle

Commissioner

Motivated by the fact that there are people with mental health needs whose voices are hard to hear. Views her primary responsibility, beyond running a safe and effective treatment agency, as giving voice to the voiceless. An LMHC and long-time champion for mental health parity and access. Her clinical and management experience, coupled with experience in the fields of homelessness and substance use disorder, has proven invaluable to the Department's continued work in reducing barriers to service access. Received the Mental Health Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable people, years of directing, supervising, and serving in one of the Commonwealth's most complex and necessary organizations, and skill in developing professionals as well as programs and systems of care. Considered an inspirational leader who defines what service, professionalism, and advocacy are.

Beth Lucas

Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health Services

Robert Wagner

Interim General Counsel

Crystal Collier

Chief of Staff

Steve Barnard

Chief Financial Officer

Charlene Zuffante

Deputy Commissioner of Child, Youth and Family Services

Kathy Sanders, M.D

Deputy Commissioner Clinical and Professional Services

Nancy Connolly, Psy.D.

Assistant Commissioner of Forensic Mental Health Services

Funmi Aguocha, PsyD.

Assistant Commissioner Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention

Janet Ross

Assistant Commissioner for Clinical and Professional Services/Director of Licensing

Daniela Harrigan

Director of Community Engagement

Glenda Hazard

Director of Communications - Media Relations Contact

Star Sims

Director of Human Rights

Flojona Desroches McClain

Assistant Director of Human Rights (Children/Adolescents and Community)

Katherine Gallant

Director of Investigations

Jay Tallman

Director of Policy

Rob Walker, CPS

External Consumer Engagement Liaison