Mass. General Laws c.176A § 8SS

Mental health and community-based acute treatment; preauthorization not required

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, § 55, effective November 8, 2022

Section 8SS

(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 contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan that is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth 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 any 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