Bill > S0263

This bill requires health insurance providers in Rhode Island to cover mobile response and stabilization services for children and youth under 18 experiencing acute mental health crises, starting January 1, 2026. These services are defined as a behavioral health crisis intervention system that provides immediate de-escalation, stabilization, and follow-up care delivered by certified providers. The services are designed to rapidly respond to and assess mental health emergencies, with symptoms potentially including aggression, self-injury, trauma, acute depression/anxiety, school challenges, suicidal or homicidal thoughts, and extreme parent-child conflict. The bill applies to various types of health insurance contracts, including individual and group plans, and specifies that coverage must be consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis model. Importantly, the bill exempts certain types of limited benefit insurance policies from this requirement, such as disability income, accident-only, and long-term care plans. The legislation amends multiple chapters of Rhode Island's General Laws to ensure comprehensive implementation across different types of health insurance providers, ultimately aiming to improve mental health support for young people in crisis.