The bill amends Rhode Island's General Laws to enhance discharge planning requirements for hospitals and freestanding emergency-care facilities, particularly focusing on patients with substance use disorders, opioid overdoses, and chronic addiction. It mandates the submission of a comprehensive discharge plan to the director by January 1, 2017, which includes evidence-based practices and specific provisions for patients with substance use disorders. The bill also requires the development and dissemination of standards and best practices for the treatment and transition of these patients, including the early introduction of certified peer recovery specialists and substance use evaluation standards. Additionally, it calls for the creation of a real-time database to track the availability of mental health and substance use disorder services and requires the submission of a discharge plan for patients with a primary mental health disorder diagnosis.

The bill introduces insertions that expand the responsibilities of the directors of health and behavioral healthcare, including using the real-time database to ensure prompt discharge into appropriate services and incorporating patient consent for certified peer recovery specialist services into a comprehensive patient consent form by January 1, 2025. It also amends existing law to ensure parity in health plan coverage for mental health and substance use disorders, including coverage for non-opioid pain treatments and parity of cost-sharing requirements. Health plans must cover residential or inpatient services without preauthorization for the first 28 days, and the bill prohibits health plans from refusing coverage for court-ordered treatment. A legislative hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2028, to assess the impact of these measures, and the act will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
2872: 23-17.26-3, 27-38.2-1