Massachusetts Hospital Group Changes Policy on Reporting Newborns with Drug Exposure

The move aims to address racial inequities and improve substance abuse treatment access by requiring consent for drug tests and not automatically reporting 'substance exposure'.

A major Massachusetts hospital group, Mass General Brigham, will no longer automatically file child abuse or neglect reports for babies born with illegal drugs in their systems.
The policy change is aimed at addressing racial and ethnic inequities, as studies have shown that Black pregnant individuals are more likely to be drug tested and reported to child welfare systems than their white counterparts.
Under the new policy, hospitals will require written consent for conducting drug tests on newborns or mothers, except in emergencies.
The hospital system emphasizes that 'substance exposure' alone does not necessitate a report of abuse or neglect unless there are additional concerns for the infant's safety.
This move is part of a broader effort to reduce stigma and improve access to substance abuse treatment, recognizing substance use disorder as a treatable health condition.