This bill amends several sections of the General Laws to establish and mandate coverage for acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services, effective January 1, 2026. The bill defines these services as a behavioral health crisis intervention system that provides rapid response, assessment, early intervention, and follow-up care for children and youth up to the age of twenty-one experiencing acute mental health crises. It specifies that these services must be provided by licensed providers, replacing the previous requirement for certified providers, and expands the age range for eligible individuals from eighteen years and younger to twenty-one years and younger.

Additionally, the bill requires that insurers reimburse licensed providers for mobile response and stabilization services at rates equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for these services, starting October 1, 2026, using the state Medicaid payment methodology established by the executive office of health and human services. The bill outlines that all individual or group health insurance contracts and policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2026, must include coverage for these mobile response and stabilization services. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance access to mental health crisis intervention services for young individuals in need.

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