Health insurance; credentialing, mental health professionals.

Requires health insurers and other carriers that credential the mental health professionals in their provider networks to establish reasonable protocols and procedures for reimbursing a mental health professional who has submitted a completed credentialing application to a carrier, after being credentialed by the carrier, for mental health services provided to covered persons during the period in which the applicant's completed credentialing application is pending. The measure requires health maintenance organizations that issue Medicaid coverage to provide reimbursement to physicians and mental health professionals during the credentialing process. Under current law, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicaid plans are excluded from such requirement. The measure provides that health insurers that credential mental health professionals in their network may establish reasonable protocols and procedures for credentialing private mental health agencies. The bill establishes minimum standards that must be maintained by credentialed private mental health agencies.