Chapter 285 |
2025 -- H 6118 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/27/2025 |
A N A C T |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES |
Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Potter, McGaw, Cruz, Morales, Kislak, Diaz, Casimiro, and Felix |
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025 |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance |
Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
27-18-95. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. |
(a) As used in this section “Mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral |
health crisis intervention system providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services, and |
follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid |
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth eighteen (18) years of age |
and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include, but are not |
limited to: |
(1) Aggression; |
(2) Self-injury; |
(3) Trauma; |
(4) Acute depression/anxiety; |
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and |
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict. |
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning |
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated |
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained |
relevant state licensure or certification. |
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group |
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, |
or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for mobile response and |
stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis model, and in |
accordance with the insurer’s existing reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting processes, |
provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the model. |
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: |
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity; |
(2) Disability income; |
(3) Accident only; |
(4) Long-term care; |
(5) Medicare supplement; |
(6) Limited benefit health; |
(7) Specified disease indemnity; |
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and |
(9) Other limited benefit policies. |
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service |
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
27-19-87. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. |
(a) As used in this section “Mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral |
health crisis intervention system providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services, and |
follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid |
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth eighteen (18) years of age |
and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include, but are not |
limited to: |
(1) Aggression; |
(2) Self-injury; |
(3) Trauma; |
(4) Acute depression/anxiety; |
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and |
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict. |
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning |
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated |
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained |
relevant state licensure or certification. |
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group |
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, |
or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for mobile response and |
stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis model, and in |
accordance with the insurer’s existing reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting processes, |
provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the model. |
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: |
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity; |
(2) Disability income; |
(3) Accident only; |
(4) Long-term care; |
(5) Medicare supplement; |
(6) Limited benefit health; |
(7) Specified disease indemnity; |
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and |
(9) Other limited benefit policies. |
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service |
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
27-20-83. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. |
(a) As used in this section “Mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral |
health crisis intervention system providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services, and |
follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid |
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth eighteen (18) years of age |
and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include, but are not |
limited to: |
(1) Aggression; |
(2) Self-injury; |
(3) Trauma; |
(4) Acute depression/anxiety; |
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and |
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict. |
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning |
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated |
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained |
relevant state licensure or certification. |
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group |
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, |
or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for mobile response and |
stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis model, and in |
accordance with the insurer’s existing reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting processes, |
provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the model. |
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: |
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity; |
(2) Disability income; |
(3) Accident only; |
(4) Long-term care; |
(5) Medicare supplement; |
(6) Limited benefit health; |
(7) Specified disease indemnity; |
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and |
(9) Other limited benefit policies. |
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance |
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
27-41-100. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. |
(a) As used in this section “Mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral |
health crisis intervention system providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services, and |
follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid |
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth eighteen (18) years of age |
and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include, but are not |
limited to: |
(1) Aggression; |
(2) Self-injury; |
(3) Trauma; |
(4) Acute depression/anxiety; |
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and |
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict. |
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning |
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated |
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained |
relevant state licensure or certification. |
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group |
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, |
or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for mobile response and |
stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis model, and in |
accordance with the insurer’s existing reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting processes, |
provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the model. |
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for: |
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity; |
(2) Disability income; |
(3) Accident only; |
(4) Long-term care; |
(5) Medicare supplement; |
(6) Limited benefit health; |
(7) Specified disease indemnity; |
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and |
(9) Other limited benefit policies. |
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026. |
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LC002544/SUB A/2 |
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