Mental health residential treatment authorizations

Page last updated on: 8/18/25

Coverage varies depending on plan

Applies to:

Group HMO, EPO, POS and PPO

Individual MyPriority HMO, POS and PPO

There are a limited number of eating disorder and mental health residential facilities in Michigan. To ensure members have access to this level of Behavioral Health care covered within their benefit package, our members have access to Cigna’s national network for this specific level of care. We may approve in-state commercial members (HMO/EPO) for Mental Health Residential Treatment with a Cigna contracted facility.

Residential treatment for eating disorders requires 24-hour on-site nursing (RN/LVN/LPN) with 24-hour medical on-call availability within 30 minutes to manage medical problems and crisis intervention. 

Please contact our Behavioral Health Department at 800.673.8043 for purposes of care coordination and access to this level of care.

The term "medical necessity" is used to mean care that is determined to be effective, appropriate and necessary to treat a given patient's disorder. To determine medical necessity for mental health residential treatment, the Priority Health Behavioral Health department relies on InterQual® Behavioral Health criteria and Priority Health medical policy:

Criteria required for initial and concurrent medical necessity reviews includes but not limited to:

  • Chronic medical conditions
  • Stressors/symptoms
  • Psychosocial information
  • Psychotropic medications
  • Pertinent treatment history
  • Risk factors

Authorization is required. In addition to the member meeting medical necessity criteria, the residential program must meet our Residential Facility criteria. We also require ongoing clinical reviews to determine if the member continues to meet medical necessity criteria for treatment.

In-network providers

In-network providers can request authorization for mental health and substance use disorder services, evaluations and discharges using GuidingCare.

Request an authorization

Out of network providers

If you’re a provider located within the state of Michigan and would like to join our network, visit our credentialing application page.

Out-of-network providers request mental health and substance use disorder services using our Behavioral Health Authorization Form.