AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Raises the age of eligibility for mobile response and stabilization services from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) and establishes a minimum rate for commercial health insurance reimbursement for such services.)

H7939

2026 -- H 7939
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LC005898
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Introduced By:
Representatives Donovan, Kislak, Furtado, Dawson, Boylan, Bennett,
Potter, Carson, Cotter, and Caldwell

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
(OHIC)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 27-18-95 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-18 entitled "Accident
2
and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

27-18-95. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services.
4
[Effective January 1, 2026.]
5
(a) As used in this section, “mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral
6
health crisis intervention
system

model
providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services,
7
and follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid
8
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth
eighteen (18)

twenty-one
9
(21)
years of age and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include,
10
but are not limited to:
11
(1) Aggression;
12
(2) Self-injury;
13
(3) Trauma;
14
(4) Acute depression/anxiety;
15
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and
16
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict.
17
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning
18
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated
19
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained

1
relevant state licensure or certification.
2
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
3
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,
4
or renewed in this state on or after January 1,
2026

2027
, shall provide coverage for mobile response
5
and stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis
and stabilization

6
model, and in accordance with the insurer’s existing
reimbursement,
credentialing, and contracting
7
processes, provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the
8
model.
9
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
10
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
11
(2) Disability income;
12
(3) Accident only;
13
(4) Long-term care;
14
(5) Medicare supplement;
15
(6) Limited benefit health;
16
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
17
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
18
(9) Other limited benefit policies.
19

(d) Insurers shall reimburse certified providers for mobile response and stabilization
20
services as defined in this section at rates of reimbursement equal to or greater than the prevailing
21
integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilization services on or after October 1,
22
2026 using the state Medicaid payment methodology as established by the executive office of
23
health and human services.
24
SECTION 2. Section 27-19-87 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-19 entitled "Nonprofit
25
Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:
26

27-19-87. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services.
27
[Effective January 1, 2026.]
28
(a) As used in this section, “mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral
29
health crisis intervention
system

model
providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services,
30
and follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid
31
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth
eighteen (18)

twenty-one
32
(21)
years of age and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include,
33
but are not limited to:
34
(1) Aggression;

LC005898 - Page 2 of 7
1
(2) Self-injury;
2
(3) Trauma;
3
(4) Acute depression/anxiety;
4
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and
5
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict.
6
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning
7
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated
8
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained
9
relevant state licensure or certification.
10
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
11
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,
12
or renewed in this state on or after January 1,
2026

2027
, shall provide coverage for mobile response
13
and stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis
and stabilization

14
model, and in accordance with the insurer’s existing
reimbursement,
credentialing, and contracting
15
processes, provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the
16
model.
17
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
18
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
19
(2) Disability income;
20
(3) Accident only;
21
(4) Long-term care;
22
(5) Medicare supplement;
23
(6) Limited benefit health;
24
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
25
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
26
(9) Other limited benefit policies.
27

(d) Insurers shall reimburse certified providers for mobile response and stabilization
28
services as defined in this section at rates of reimbursement equal to or greater than the prevailing
29
integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilization services on or after October 1,
30
2026 using the state Medicaid payment methodology as established by the executive office of
31
health and human services.
32
SECTION 3. Section 27-20-83 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-20 entitled "Nonprofit
33
Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows:
34

27-20-83. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services.

LC005898 - Page 3 of 7
1
[Effective January 1, 2026.]
2
(a) As used in this section, “mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral
3
health crisis intervention
system

model
providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services,
4
and follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid
5
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth
eighteen (18)

twenty-one
6
(21)
years of age and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include,
7
but are not limited to:
8
(1) Aggression;
9
(2) Self-injury;
10
(3) Trauma;
11
(4) Acute depression/anxiety;
12
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and
13
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict.
14
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning
15
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated
16
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained
17
relevant state licensure or certification.
18
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
19
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,
20
or renewed in this state on or after January 1,
2026

2027
, shall provide coverage for mobile response
21
and stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis
and stabilization

22
model, and in accordance with the insurer’s existing
reimbursement,
credentialing, and contracting
23
processes, provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the
24
model.
25
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
26
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
27
(2) Disability income;
28
(3) Accident only;
29
(4) Long-term care;
30
(5) Medicare supplement;
31
(6) Limited benefit health;
32
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
33
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
34
(9) Other limited benefit policies.

LC005898 - Page 4 of 7
1

(d) Insurers shall reimburse certified providers for mobile response and stabilization
2
services as defined in this section at rates of reimbursement equal to or greater than the prevailing
3
integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilization services on or after October 1,
4
2026 using the state Medicaid payment methodology as established by the executive office of
5
health and human services.
6
SECTION 4. Section 27-41-100 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-41 entitled "Health
7
Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended to read as follows:
8

27-41-100. Acute mental health crisis mobile response and stabilization services.
9
[Effective January 1, 2026.]
10
(a) As used in this section, “mobile response and stabilization services” means a behavioral
11
health crisis intervention
system

model
providing immediate de-escalation, stabilization services,
12
and follow-up care, provided by a certified provider. These services are delivered to provide rapid
13
response to, assessment of, and early intervention for a child or youth
eighteen (18)

twenty-one
14
(21)
years of age and younger experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Symptoms might include,
15
but are not limited to:
16
(1) Aggression;
17
(2) Self-injury;
18
(3) Trauma;
19
(4) Acute depression/anxiety;
20
(5) Challenges at school; Suicidal or homicidal thoughts/behaviors; and
21
(6) Extreme parent/child conflict.
22
Mobile response and stabilization services are provided by “certified providers” meaning
23
licensed behavioral health organizations providing outpatient services, which have demonstrated
24
expertise in delivering child-specific mobile response and stabilization services, and have obtained
25
relevant state licensure or certification.
26
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group
27
hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery,
28
or renewed in this state on or after January 1,
2026

2027
, shall provide coverage for mobile response
29
and stabilization services, consistent with the core components of the mobile crisis
and stabilization

30
model, and in accordance with the insurer’s existing
reimbursement,
credentialing, and contracting
31
processes, provided any utilization review processes do not limit timely access or fidelity to the
32
model.
33
(c) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
34
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;

LC005898 - Page 5 of 7
1
(2) Disability income;
2
(3) Accident only;
3
(4) Long-term care;
4
(5) Medicare supplement;
5
(6) Limited benefit health;
6
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
7
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
8
(9) Other limited benefit policies.
9

(d) Insurers shall reimburse certified providers for mobile response and stabilization
10
services as defined in this section at rates of reimbursement equal to or greater than the prevailing
11
integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilization services on or after October 1,
12
2026 using the state Medicaid payment methodology as established by the executive office of
13
health and human services.
14
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC005898
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LC005898 - Page 6 of 7
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
***
1
This act would raise the age of eligibility for mobile response and stabilization services
2
from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) and establishes a minimum rate for commercial health
3
insurance reimbursement for such services.
4
This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC005898
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LC005898 - Page 7 of 7