Requires every individual or group health insurance plan on or after January 1, 2026, that provides benefits to reimburse child service providers for therapy services offered through EOHHS certified Kids Connect/Therapeutic Services.
Summary
H5850 amends Rhode Island’s insurance laws to require most individual and group health insurance contracts, plans, and policies delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 to reimburse child service providers for therapy services delivered through EOHHS-certified Kids Connect/Therapeutic Services. The mandate applies to insurers, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit or for-profit health service corporations that cover individual subscribers in the state or group members whose principal place of employment is in Rhode Island.
In practical terms, the bill creates a new coverage obligation for private health plans tied to a specific state-certified children’s behavioral health service model. It is aimed at improving payment access for therapy services for children by ensuring providers are reimbursed when services are furnished through the Kids Connect/Therapeutic Services program. The act takes effect upon passage, but the reimbursement requirement applies to policies beginning with the 2026 plan year trigger in the text.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to chapter 27-38.2 of the General Laws governing insurance coverage for mental illness and substance use disorders. It would expand the duties of private insurers and related health coverage entities by requiring reimbursement for a defined category of child therapy services, thereby affecting plan administration, provider payment practices, and potentially coverage costs for insureds and carriers. The measure does not appear to create a new public benefit program; rather, it mandates private insurance reimbursement for services certified by EOHHS under Kids Connect/Therapeutic Services.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the available context suggests the bill is intended as a supportive behavioral health measure for children and families. The sponsorship by multiple representatives and the direct reimbursement mandate indicate a policy approach favoring expanded access to therapy services. No opposing viewpoints are documented in the provided materials, so there is no recorded evidence of controversy in the available history.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the insurance mandate itself: private insurers and health service corporations may object to being required to reimburse a specific state-certified service, particularly if they believe it increases premiums, administrative complexity, or limits plan flexibility. Another possible issue is the scope of the mandate, including which child service providers qualify and how EOHHS certification interacts with insurer reimbursement rules. However, no formal opposition, amendments, or vote-based disputes are included in the provided record.