Background:

The 2016 Legislature established the Children's Mental Health Work Group (Work Group) to identify barriers to accessing mental health services for children and families, and to advise the Legislature on statewide mental health services for this population. The Work Group published its final report and recommendations in December 2016.

Medicaid Managed Care for Children.

The Health Care Authority (HCA) administers Apple Health, the state-federal Medicaid program that provides health care for eligible low-income individuals. Apple Health for Kids is available at low or no cost for children whose families meet income eligibility criteria. Benefits for children and youth up to age 21 who are enrolled through Apple Health managed care organizations (MCOs) include the Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program, which covers regularly scheduled health screening (well-child visits) to evaluate a child's growth, development, and general physical and mental health.

When purchasing managed care for Medicaid participants, the HCA must ensure that managed care organizations demonstrate the ability to supply an adequate provider network. Federal regulations and state law require managed care organizations to maintain a network of appropriate providers sufficient to provide adequate access to all services covered under the contract.

Behavioral Health Organizations.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) contracts with behavioral health organizations (BHOs) for the provision of community-based mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The BHOs contract with mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs to provide services to Medicaid enrollees who have a medical need and meet Access to Care Standards established by the DSHS.

Access to Care Standards are guidelines published by the DSHS for BHOs and their contracted mental health providers to use when determining eligibility for mental health services for individuals being served through the state public mental health system.

By January 1, 2020, behavioral health services must be fully integrated into managed care organizations that provide mental health services, substance use disorder services, and medical care services to Medicaid clients.

Telemedicine.

Telemedicine is the use of electronic communications to provide health care services to a patient at a distance. Electronic communication through audio-visual equipment allows real-time interaction between a patient and provider. Health plans offered by health carriers and Medicaid managed care organizations must reimburse health care providers for eligible health care services provided through telemedicine. In addition, originating sites other than a person's home may charge a facility fee for infrastructure and preparation of the patient.

Mental Health in K-12 Schools.

In October 2016 the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee (JLARC) completed an inventory of mental health services available to students through schools, school districts, and educational service districts. The JLARC reported that of the approximately 55,000 children ages 5-17 who received Medicaid-funded mental health services in 2015, approximately 10,000 students received those services in their schools. The remainder of students who received Medicaid-funded mental health services were served through MCOs or BHOs.

Child Care Consultation Pilot.

In 2008 the Department of Early Learning (DEL) conducted a childcare consultation pilot project and project evaluation. The pilot linked childcare providers with resources to support the care of infants and young children with behavioral concerns. Services included targeted consultation and training on social and emotional supports for providers.

Mental Health Workforce.

The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (Workforce Board) advises the Governor and Legislature on workforce development policy. The Workforce Board convenes and provides staff support to the Health Workforce Council (Council). The Council researches factors affecting shortages in the healthcare professions and recommends strategies to ensure an adequate supply of health care personnel.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredits medical education and residency programs and associated sponsoring institutions. Examples of psychiatry residency programs in Washington include the Providence Psychiatry Residency located at the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic on the Washington State University (WSU) Spokane campus, and the University of Washington (UW) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Program based at Seattle Children's Hospital.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Medicaid Managed Care for Children.

Until June 30, 2020, the HCA must oversee the coordination of mental health resources and services for Medicaid-eligible children, including resources through tribal organizations, regardless of whether the referral occurred through primary care, school-based services, or another practitioner. The HCA must require each MCO and BHO to develop adequate capacity to facilitate children's mental health treatment services by:

ensuring individuals secure and complete appointments;
tracking individual utilization of services;
coordinating with primary care providers on individual treatment plans and medication management;
providing information to plan members and primary care providers about the behavioral health resource line; and
maintaining an accurate list of providers contracted to provide mental health services to children and youth. The list must contain current information about provider availability and be made available to plan members and primary care providers.

The HCA must report on the number of children's mental health providers available in the previous year and the overall percentage of providers who were actively accepting new patients in its annual report to the Legislature on the status of access to behavioral health services for children.

Depression Screenings.

Beginning January 1, 2018, the HCA must require provider payment for depression screening for:

maternal depression for mothers of children ages 0-5; and

children ages 12-18. Screenings may be provided by primary care providers, public health nurses, and other providers in a clinical setting.

Telemedicine.Beginning January 1, 2018, BHOs contracting with the DSHS must reimburse providers for behavioral health services provided through telemedicine. The DSHS must consult with the HCA to adopt rules to implement this requirement.

Mental Health Leads in Educational Service Districts.

Each Educational Service District (ESD) must establish a lead staff person for mental health. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must employ a children's mental health services coordinator to provide support for the ESD leads. The OSPI must designate one ESD as a "lighthouse" to provide technical assistance to the other ESDs, including technical assistance with Medicaid billing for schools and school districts.

Childcare Provider Consultation.

The DEL must establish an early childhood mental health training and consultation program focused on trauma-informed care for child care providers participating in the Early Achievers quality rating system.

Mental Health Workforce.

The Workforce Board must conduct a workforce survey for clinicians qualified to provide children's mental health services and report the results to the Legislature by December 1, 2018. The Workforce Board must collect survey and administrative data related to the race and ethnicity of providers, languages spoken by providers, the ages of patients served, provider use of screening tools and assessments that are culturally relevant and linguistically valid and appropriate, and the amount of culturally relevant training that providers receive.

The WSU and the UW must each offer one 24-month residency position to a resident specializing in child and adolescent psychology. The WSU residency must be located in Eastern Washington, and the UW residency must be located in Western Washington.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Tribal organizations are included as entities for which the HCA must oversee the coordination of children's mental health treatment resources and services. The BHOs must develop adequate capacity to facilitate children's mental health treatment services by undertaking specified activities. Provider payment for depression screening is required for children ages 12-18 and may be provided by primary care providers, public health nurses, and other providers in a clinical setting. The HCA must require provider payment for maternal depression screening for mothers of children ages 0-5 beginning January 1, 2018, and subject to the availability of funds.

The child care consultation program administered by the DEL is changed to focus on trauma-informed care and to be made available to participants in the Early Achievers program. The ESDs must facilitate partnerships with community mental health agencies and other providers. The workforce survey conducted by the Workforce Board must collect survey and administrative data related to the race and ethnicity of providers, languages spoken by providers, the ages of patients served, provider use of screening tools and assessments that are culturally relevant and linguistically valid and appropriate, and the amount of culturally relevant training that providers receive. The DSHS must consult with the HCA when adopting rules related to reimbursement for behavioral health services provided through telemedicine. The requirement for the DSHS to determine the annual cost of operating the Partnership Access Line (PAL) and collecting proportional cost shares from health carriers is removed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill is at the nexus of two important issues this legislative session: education and mental health. Symptoms of mental illness and depression can manifest at a young age. Without depression screenings, children and young adults may suffer for years without treatment. Outpatients often come to the emergency room because they were unable to access mental health services in their community. Increased access for behavioral health support for childhood providers is needed, and many other states have implemented this type of consultation program with great success. The collaboration between ESDs and the OSPI is appreciated. Every day students suffer from unmet mental health needs and are not diagnosed. This bill will provide infrastructure needed to implement comprehensive mental health services throughout school districts in our state. The language around "culturally appropriate practices" in the bill is unclear. We need to ensure that youth of different ethnic backgrounds can receive the help that is appropriate for them. Several elements in this bill will help address the acute behavioral health workforce shortage. Telemedicine is a cost-effective way to provide services to people in rural areas. There is an extreme shortage of children's mental health providers in Eastern Washington, and training providers in that region will help retain the workforce. More residencies are needed for child psychiatrists in the state. Please add clarification for the roles of MCOs and BHOs regarding network adequacy and to specify additional criteria for the workforce survey data. Schools cannot meet their mission of helping children learn without these mental health supports and services. The PAL provisions will provide stable funding for that program.

(Opposed) Children's mental health needs should not lead to psychiatric labels and drugging. More children receive medication than behavioral treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The bill should be amended to require every program providing children's mental health services to track the administration of psychotropic drugs. Additional controls are needed to create accountability and oversight connected to individual health outcomes.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Senn, prime sponsor; Roseann Martinez, Children's Home Society of Washington; Mary Richards; Elizabeth Meade, Washington Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics; Allison Krutsinger, Child Care Aware of Washington; Erin Riffe and Michael Hickman, Capital Region Educational Service District 113; Mary Stone-Smith, Catholic Community; Nickolaus Lewis, Lummi Nation; Chiara Solomon, Lummi Indian Business Council; Mike Hatchett, Washington Council for Behavioral Health; Ken Roberts, Washington State University; Tanya Keeble and Nicole Burkette, Providence Psychiatry Residency Spokane; Erica Hallock, Empire Health Foundation; Sean Graham, Washington State Medical Association; Andrea Tull Davis, Coordinated Care; Tatsuko Go Hollo, Children's Alliance; Joel Ryan, Washington State Association of Headstart & Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program; Melanie Smith, Wellspring Family Services; Greg Williamson, Department of Early Learning; Mona Johnson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Seth Dawson, National Alliance on Mental Illness; and Ian Goodhew, University of Washington Medicine.

(Opposed) Steven Pearce, Citizens Commission on Human Rights Seattle.