An Act to remove administrative barriers to behavioral health services

This bill aims to streamline access to behavioral health care by eliminating preauthorization requirements for a wide range of medically necessary mental health and substance use services. It directly affects commonwealth employees, Medicaid beneficiaries, and other insured individuals by ensuring that insurance carriers must cover these services without demanding prior approval, provided the facility notifies the insurer within three days of admission. The legislation also restricts carriers from denying claims if providers followed approved authorization methods and limits the time window for recouping payments, protecting providers from retroactive denials. By shifting the focus to post-service notification and clinician-determined medical necessity, the law seeks to reduce administrative hurdles that can delay critical treatment.