RI H7944

Requires insurance payors to provide coverage for substance use disorders in accordance with American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria, at minimum, rather than merely relying upon those criteria

Mandates that utilization reviews for mental health or substance use disorder treatment placement must exclusively apply the most recent patient placement criteria from nonprofit professional provider associations (such as LOCUS, CALOCUS-CASII)

Prohibits mental health and substance use disorder coverage and clinical criteria from deviating from generally accepted standards of care as defined by recognized professional associations

Expands the definition of mental health disorders to include conditions listed in the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood

Adds new definitions for "generally accepted standards of care" and "nonprofit professional provider association" to include organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and American Society of Addiction Medicine