January 2026 Top of Mind

Essential Plan offers mobile crisis benefit for members in 2026

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the mobile crisis benefit will be covered under the Essential Plan.

What the Mobile Crisis benefit offers
Introduced by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Mobile Crisis benefit provides Essential Plan members immediate, community-based interventions for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The service offers an alternative to hospitalization, when clinically appropriate.

Mobile Crisis service requirements and claim detail

• All services must be delivered by a mobile crisis team that is certified or authorized by the OMH and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Mobile crisis teams may include, but are not limited to: Behavioral health professionals, Certified peer specialists, Certified recovery peer advocates, Credentialed family peer advocates and Credentialed youth peer advocates
• Prior authorization: Is not required for mobile crisis services.
• Copays: No copay needed to access mobile crisis services.
• Reimbursement: UnitedHealthcare will reimburse providers at New York State-mandated rates. Please refer to mobile telephonic crisis.xlsx for specific rate information. Out-of-network providers will be reimbursed at the same rate as network providers.

Questions?
For more information, please review the Comprehensive Crisis Response System information from OMH. If you have additional questions, please contact your provider relations advocate.