September/October 2026 Top of Mind

MRSS services transition to Medicaid Fee-for-Service

Effective Oct. 1, 2026, Rhode Island Medicaid will cover Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) as a standalone, fee-for-service (FFS) children’s behavioral health crisis program. It is no longer a part of managed care plans and is not included as part of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program.

MRSS services provide rapid, community-based behavioral health crisis response and stabilization for children and youth ages 2–21 in Rhode Island. It’s available 24/7/365 regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Services are designed to help children, youth and families manage a behavioral health crisis safely in the community, avoid unnecessary hospitalization or residential treatment stays, and connect them with ongoing services and supports when needed.

What this means for services rendered on or after Oct. 1, 2026

• CCBHC providers should stop using all MRSS-related codes, including S9484 and S9485, for shadow billing purposes.
• Organizations licensed to provide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services should not bill Optum Behavioral Health/UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island or other Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) for MRSS services. Providers should follow Rhode Island Medicaid billing requirements and submit MRSS services through the Medicaid Fee-for-Service delivery system in accordance with state-issued guidance. 

Action Needed

Please ensure your billing processes are updated accordingly to reflect these changes.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact your Provider Advocate or call  Provider Services at 1-877-614-0484, 8 am – 8 pm ET, Monday – Friday.