Trinity Health Closures in CT; MA Behavioral Health Hospital Expands; VT Telehealth Law to Improve Rural Access
CT lawmakers push for input following Trinity Health closures
This summer, Trinity Health of New England is closing two outpatient mental health programs in Hartford, raising concerns about continuity of care for patients with ongoing psychiatric needs.The programs have long served as key access points for therapy and medication management. heir closure may add strain to already limited behavioral health resources in the city.
The state’s Office of Health Strategy (OHS) determined that Trinity did not need state approval to end the programs, since the licenses were held by a third-party medical group rather than a Trinity-operated hospital.
That decision has split lawmakers. Sen. Saud Anwar (D–South Windsor) said the closures will hurt Hartford residents but acknowledged that OHS acted within current law. Sen. Jeff Gordon (R–Woodstock) disagreed, arguing that while the decision may follow a technical loophole, the agency still bears broader oversight responsibility.
In response, legislators are supporting efforts to close the regulatory loophole and mandate more transparency before outpatient mental health services can be reduced or eliminated. Proposed changes would require community input, ensuring patients and providers are part of the decision-making process.
Mental health advocates say such steps are necessary to preserve vital services and prevent disruptions in care that can have long-term consequences for vulnerable individuals.
New behavioral health hospital in Malden to expand services
A new 144-bed behavioral health hospital is under construction in Malden, Massachusetts, through a partnership between Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare. Scheduled to open in fall 2025 on the site of the former Malden Hospital, the facility aims to expand access to psychiatric services across Greater Boston.
The hospital will offer inpatient treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Planned services include acute psychiatric stabilization, substance use treatment, and other specialized therapeutic programs. As part of its workforce development efforts, the hospital will also serve as a clinical training site for Tufts University School of Medicine.
Leaders from both organizations say the project will help meet growing demand for behavioral health care, ease pressure on emergency departments, and reduce wait times for inpatient beds. The facility is expected to follow a team-based care model, integrating psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and therapists to deliver coordinated treatment.
Amid widespread staffing shortages and rising need, expanding behavioral health infrastructure has become a regional priority. Massachusetts officials have highlighted the role of new facilities like this one in strengthening the continuum of care and addressing persistent service gaps.
The Malden hospital is one of several large-scale mental health projects underway in the state aimed at increasing capacity and training opportunities for future clinicians.
Lawsuit over federal education funding could affect CT mental health services
Connecticut has joined 24 other states in a lawsuit seeking the release of $6.8 billion in federal education funding that was frozen during the Trump administration. Filed in July, the suit argues that the U.S. Department of Education lacked legal authority to withhold funds already approved by Congress for the 2025-26 school year.
Connecticut stands to lose $53.6 million in funding intended for a broad range of programs, including after-school services, adult education, professional development, and support for English learners. Officials say the unexpected freeze could force local districts to revise budgets and cut back on essential services.
Although the withheld funding isn’t specifically earmarked for mental health, advocates warn that budget reductions in other areas could jeopardize school-based mental health supports. With increasing student needs and ongoing staffing shortages, many districts rely on flexible federal dollars to maintain behavioral health programming.
The state and its co-plaintiffs are seeking a court order to compel the Department of Education to release the funds in time for upcoming budget cycles. If successful, the case could help preserve or even expand mental health services that schools have worked to establish in recent years.
Education and health leaders stress that stable funding is critical for sustaining student wellness initiatives across Connecticut.
VT telehealth law seeks to improve access in rural, underserved communities
Effective September 1, Vermont’s new telehealth legislation, Senate Bill 30, expands access to mental health care by requiring insurers to reimburse telehealth services including therapy, psychiatric consultations, and care coordination at the same rate as
in-person visits. This law makes permanent the payment parity policies initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to video-based services, the law mandates coverage and reimbursement for medically necessary audio-only telephone visits, ensuring patients without reliable internet or video capabilities can still access care. The legislation also supports substance use disorder treatment by requiring reimbursement for both the telehealth provider and the originating healthcare facility when applicable.
The law includes clear standards to protect privacy, quality, and security in virtual care, addressing concerns about the growing use of remote mental health services. By eliminating financial disincentives for providers, it encourages wider adoption of telehealth, which is especially important for patients in rural or underserved communities facing long travel distances and provider shortages.
Vermont joins a growing number of states formalizing telehealth regulations, signaling a lasting shift in behavioral health care delivery. Health officials anticipate that these changes will enhance continuity of care and improve outcomes by making mental health services more accessible and equitable across the state.