Mass. General Laws c.175 § 47SS

Provision of insurance coverage for mental health and community-based acute treatment; no requirement for preauthorization before treatment

This is an unofficial version of a Massachusetts General Law. For more information on this topic, please see Law about health insurance.

Updates

Added by St.2022, c.177, § 51, effective November 8, 2022

Section 47SS

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Community-based acute treatment”, 24-hour clinically managed mental health diversionary or step-down services for children and adolescents that is usually provided as an alternative to mental health acute treatment.

“Intensive community-based acute treatment”, intensive 24-hour clinically managed mental health diversionary or step-down services for children and adolescents that is usually provided as an alternative to mental health acute treatment.

“Mental health acute treatment”, 24-hour medically supervised mental health services provided in an inpatient facility licensed by the department of mental health that provides psychiatric evaluation, management, treatment and discharge planning in a structured treatment milieu.

(b)  A policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within or without the commonwealth, which is considered creditable coverage under section 1 of chapter 111M, shall provide coverage for medically necessary mental health acute treatment, community-based acute treatment and intensive community-based acute treatment and shall not require a preauthorization before the administration of such treatment; provided, however, that the facility shall notify the carrier of the admission and the initial treatment plan within 72 hours of admission.

Last updated:	August 10, 2022