The proposed legislation aims to establish a statewide Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program in Rhode Island, designed to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth under the age of twenty-one (21) experiencing behavioral health crises. The program will be funded through a braided funding model that combines Medicaid funds, commercial insurance, and state general revenue, ensuring equitable access to services regardless of insurance status. The MRSS will operate 24/7, offering services such as rapid mobile crisis response, crisis assessment and de-escalation, short-term stabilization, and care coordination, all delivered in the child's natural environment.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of a new chapter in the General Laws dedicated to MRSS, defining terms related to the program, and outlining service delivery standards. The legislation mandates that no prior authorization, referral, or clinical intake determination is required for initiating MRSS, and it prohibits families from being charged fees, co-payments, or cost sharing for these services. Additionally, the bill specifies that the Medicaid agency will designate MRSS as a covered service for eligible children and youth, ensuring that it is not subject to prior authorization, visit caps, geographic restrictions, or utilization management practices that delay or impede crisis response or stabilization services.

The act also includes provisions for oversight and reporting, requiring the department to collect data on MRSS utilization, response times, outcomes, and cost avoidance, and to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly. Furthermore, the department is granted rulemaking authority to implement the chapter, including establishing a mutual aid framework to ensure coverage during periods of high demand or workforce shortages. The legislation emphasizes the importance of continuity of care and the involvement of experienced community-based providers in delivering MRSS.