The bill establishes a new chapter in the General Laws titled "CORE STATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES SYSTEMS," aimed at enhancing the quality and accessibility of behavioral health crisis services in Rhode Island. This chapter includes definitions related to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, crisis receiving and stabilization services, and mobile crisis teams. It mandates the creation of designated crisis hotline centers that will operate 24/7 to provide crisis intervention services and coordinate care with local resources.

The bill requires health insurers to cover mobile crisis teams and crisis receiving and stabilization services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, effective January 1, 2026. Coverage for these services will be provided without the need for prior authorization, and insured individuals will not incur higher costs for services from non-participating providers than they would for in-network services.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision for a combined E-911 and 988 suicide lifeline surcharge to support the operational costs of these services. It emphasizes the need for a statewide assessment to ensure equitable access to services for historically underserved communities. The health insurance commissioner is tasked with enforcing compliance with federal coverage requirements and verifying alignment with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, thereby further enhancing access to behavioral health crisis services.

Statutes affected:
5987: 39-21.1-14