CommercialAdministrativeLow impact
Behavioral health outpatient access standards
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·RI · Psychiatry·Physician / Behavioral Health
Effective date
Aug 1, 2020
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
BCBSRI has established specific access standards for behavioral health providers including appointment wait times, office waiting times, minimum practice hours, and phone response requirements. These are operational requirements that providers must meet to maintain compliance with BCBSRI network standards.
Action Required
Administrative staff should review current scheduling practices to ensure compliance with BCBSRI access standards: emergency appointments immediately, urgent care within 24 hours, routine initial visits within 10 business days, follow-up visits within 30-90 days depending on provider type. Ensure office waiting times stay within 15 minutes for Medicare members and 30 minutes for other members. Behavioral health providers must maintain minimum 20 hours per week practice and return calls within specified timeframes.