HB 7944 requires health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment under the same terms as medical care. It prohibits annual or lifetime dollar limits on such coverage and mandates that financial requirements (like copays) and treatment restrictions must not be more stringent than those for physical health conditions. The bill specifies coverage categories (e.g., inpatient, outpatient), mandates medication-assisted treatments for substance use disorders (like methadone), and ensures cost-sharing for behavioral health visits matches primary care standards, directly affecting all health insurance plans and their policyholders.
Requires that reimbursement rates for licensed mobile response and stabilization services be equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilizations services as established by EOHHS.
HB 7501 allocates $100,000 in the 2026-2027 budget to support mental health and emotional well-being for K-12 students in out-of-school time (OST) programs, such as after-school and summer programs. It provides funding for staff training in trauma-informed practices, peer support groups, mental health resources, and culturally responsive activities designed by local communities. The funds will be distributed competitively through Rhode Island’s Afterschool Network to prioritize programs serving high-need youth across urban, suburban, and rural areas. This policy directly affects community-based OST programs and their staff, enabling flexible support for youth mental health needs.
SB 2562 requires health insurers to pay an additional $30 million annually starting in 2026 to fund telehealth services, specifically including the PediPRN (pediatric) and MomsPRN (maternal) teleconsultation lines. This funding is added to existing healthcare contributions and deposited into a dedicated "PRN account" managed by the Department of Health. The bill directly affects health insurers (through new fees) and benefits Rhode Island residents seeking timely mental health support for children, mothers, and perinatal patients. The funds will support statewide psychiatric consultation services for primary care providers, expanding behavioral health capacity without altering current insurance coverage.
Provides that for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, payors would rely upon criteria which reflect generally accepted standards of care when developing coverage.
Permits licensed providers to accompany emergency medical services and treat patients within the community for mental health disorders, including substance use disorders.
Requires health insurers to comply with federal mental health parity laws, prevent discriminatory treatment limits, and ensures meaningful mental health and substance use coverage in all benefit classifications.
Mandates additional state education funding for the mental and behavioral health of students equal to 2% of the district’s total expenditures, and require those funds be used to hire staff such as school social workers, and behavioral specialists.
Directs middle and high schools which issue student identification cards to include on those cards on or before September 8, 2026, contact crisis telephone numbers for suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention.
Provides that licensed independent clinical social workers be able to enroll and bill Medicaid directly for covered services provided to adults with Medicaid fee-for-service coverage.
