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Summary of Provider Newsroom behavioral health articles
Cigna·IL, MD, OR, CA · Psychiatry, Pediatrics, OB-GYN·Medical Policy
Effective date
Aug 29, 2026
We identified it
Sep 2, 2026
Summary
This is a newsroom summary page recapping behavioral health articles from August 2026, including three actionable policy updates: LOCUS/CALOCUS-CASII criteria adoption in Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon (effective August 29, 2026); maternity coding updates using new AMA CPT framework; and California HMO access standards. The page itself is informational and does not constitute a direct policy change.
Action Required
By August 29, 2026: Billing and clinical teams in Illinois, Maryland, and Oregon must implement LOCUS criteria for patients aged 19+ and CALOCUS-CASII criteria for patients aged 6-18 in behavioral health claims and authorization processes. Update prior authorization systems, care management documentation templates, and level-of-care assessment tools to align with these criteria. Review maternity coding guidelines (referenced but not detailed in this summary) and update CPT coding processes to reflect the new AMA maternity framework replacing the traditional global package. California providers must ensure encounter documentation meets HMO appointment access standards. Failure to adopt required criteria may result in claim denials and compliance violations.