§ 27-19-87 — § 27-19-87. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. [Effective January 1, 2026.]

Rhode Island § 27-19-87

• Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
• Title 27: Insurance
• Ch. 27-19: Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations

Text

§ 27-19-87. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services. [Effective January 1, 2026.]

(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.

Legislative History

P.L. 2025, ch. 284, § 2, effective January 1, 2026; P.L. 2025, ch. 285, § 2, effective January 1, 2026.