Rhode IslandHealth insurers must pay crisis providers at least Medicaid rates
Covered health insurers must pay licensed providers at least Rhode Island’s Medicaid rate for mobile mental health crisis care for children and youth up to age 21.
What it does
Starting October 1, 2026, covered health insurers must pay at least the state Medicaid rate for mobile crisis care for children and youth up to age 21. Listed limited and supplemental policies are excluded.
Argument forGuaranteed payments of at least the Medicaid rate could help licensed providers keep mobile crisis care available for children and young people.
Argument againstThe payment floor could limit insurers’ ability to negotiate lower prices for covered crisis care, even when providers would accept them.
More detail
Covered health insurers must pay licensed providers at least the state Medicaid rate for mobile mental health crisis care. The rule covers health insurers, nonprofit hospital and medical service insurers, and health maintenance organizations. Services serve children and youth up to age 21 experiencing an acute mental health crisis. Providers must be licensed outpatient behavioral health organizations with expertise in mobile crisis care for children. Listed limited and supplemental insurance policies are excluded, including long-term care, disability income, and Medicare supplement insurance. Insurers must use the Medicaid payment method set by Rhode Island’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The payment floor applies on or after October 1, 2026. The coverage provisions apply to policies delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in Rhode Island on or after January 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2206/22/2026 Signed by Governor Dan McKeeBecame Law
- Jun 1806/18/2026 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 1106/11/2026 House passed Sub A in concurrencePassed House
- Vote recorded IN CONCURRENCE. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 1006/10/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)Minor
- Jun 1006/10/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrenceMinor
- Jun 806/08/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2026)
- May 2805/28/2026 Referred to House Health & Human ServicesMinor
- May 2705/27/2026 Senate passed Sub APassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- May 2205/22/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/27/2026)Minor
- May 2105/21/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub AMinor
- May 2005/20/2026 Proposed SubstituteMajor
- May 1905/19/2026 Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026)
- May 1805/18/2026 Meeting postponed (05/19/2026)
- May 1505/15/2026 Scheduled for consideration
- Mar 2403/24/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further studyMinor
- Mar 2003/20/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)
- Mar 1203/12/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human ServicesIntroduced
HealthcareMental Health