The proposed bill, SB 429, aims to establish a statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program to address the behavioral health needs of children and youth aged two to twenty-one. This program is designed to ensure timely crisis response and intervention services, provide stabilization to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and meet Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) obligations. The MRSS services will be available in natural environments such as homes, schools, child care centers, and community facilities, focusing on family-centered, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate care.

The bill introduces a new chapter titled "Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Act" within Title 40.1 of the General Laws, detailing definitions, program structure, service delivery, funding, provider requirements, and monitoring. Key components include a 24/7 operation with a response time of no more than one hour, accessibility to all children in crisis without requiring formal referrals or prior authorization, and culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate services.

To support the implementation of the MRSS program, the bill appropriates six million dollars from the state general fund and authorizes the state Medicaid agency to submit a state plan amendment to establish MRSS as a Medicaid-reimbursable service under EPSDT. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will oversee the program's implementation, including data collection on service utilization, patient outcomes, and demographic trends, as well as annual reporting on reductions in psychiatric hospitalizations and family satisfaction.

The bill emphasizes the need for collaboration among child-serving systems, including schools and child welfare agencies, and compliance with federal Medicaid standards to ensure equitable access to care for all eligible children in crisis.