This bill amends various sections of the General Laws to establish and mandate coverage for acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. These services are defined as a behavioral health crisis intervention system that provides immediate de-escalation, stabilization, and follow-up care by certified providers. The bill requires that all individual or group health insurance contracts, as well as hospital or medical expense insurance policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2026, include coverage for these services, ensuring that utilization review processes do not hinder timely access to care.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that insurers, nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations must reimburse certified mobile response and stabilization service providers, who are designated by the executive office of health and human services, at rates equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for these services. This reimbursement requirement aims to ensure that providers are adequately compensated for delivering essential mental health crisis interventions. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7630: 27-18-95, 27-19-87, 27-20-83, 27-41-100