Requires that reimbursement rates for certified mobile response and stabilization services be equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilizations services

Plain-English Summary

This bill would set a minimum payment standard for a specific type of mental health and crisis response service called mobile response and stabilization services. These are teams — often including mental health professionals — that go directly to someone experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis, rather than requiring that person to go to an emergency room or clinic. The bill would require that private health insurance companies pay providers of these services at least as much as what Rhode Island's Medicaid program (the state-federal health coverage for lower-income residents) pays for the same services.

Currently, private insurers can set their own reimbursement rates for these services, which may be lower than what Medicaid pays. This bill would create a floor, meaning private insurers could never pay *less* than the Medicaid rate — though they could still choose to pay more. The goal appears to be ensuring that providers who offer these mobile crisis services receive consistent and adequate payment regardless of whether a patient has private insurance or Medicaid coverage.

This bill would most directly affect private health insurance companies, which would be required to adjust their payment rates if they currently fall below the Medicaid benchmark. It would also affect providers of mobile crisis services, who could see more stable or increased income for their work. Ultimately, Rhode Islanders experiencing mental health crises could benefit if higher reimbursement rates encourage more providers to offer these services. The bill has been referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee and is currently being held for further review.