SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 1819

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Human Services, Mental Health & Housing, March 20, 2017

Title: An act relating to paperwork reduction in order to improve the availability of mental health services to protect children and families.

Brief Description: Reducing certain documentation and paperwork requirements in order to improve children's mental health and safety.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Dent, Senn, Kagi, Griffey, Johnson and McBride).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/01/17, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Human Services, Mental Health & Housing: 3/14/17, 3/20/17 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Amended Bill

  • Requires the Department of Social and Health Services or Health Care Authority to review initial assessment documentation rules for behavioral health treatment providers by November 1, 2017, and eliminate duplicative or inefficient documentation requirements.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators O'Ban, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Darneille, Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Hunt, Padden and Walsh.

Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)

Background: The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) licenses and certifies providers of behavioral health services. This includes establishing rules for providers, including documentation requirements for initial assessment, and auditing to monitor compliance with regulatory requirements. Two bills proposed this session would transfer oversight functions of DSHS to the Health Care Authority (HCA) and Department of Health.

The Children's Mental Health Work Group (CMHWG) is a workgroup that convened in 2016 pursuant to E2SHB 2439 (2016). The CMHWG published a final report and recommendations in December 2016. Recommendations relating to paperwork reduction were included in the body of the report and the appendices.

The Behavioral and Primary Health Regulatory Alignment Task Force (Task Force) is a taskforce that convened in 2016 pursuant to E3SHB 1713 (2016). The Task Force created a report dated November 8, 2016, which included recommendations related to paperwork reduction. The report of the Task Force was incorporated by reference in the CMHWG report recommendations.

Summary of Amended Bill: Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, DSHS must amend its rules to:

Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, audits conducted by DSHS must:

Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, DSHS must immediately review its casework and documentation requirements for social workers with the Children's Administration who provide services to children. The review must identify areas in which duplicative or inefficient documentation and paperwork requirements can be eliminated or streamlined in order to allow social workers to spend greater amounts of time and attention on direct services to children and their families. DSHS must complete the review by November 1, 2017, and take immediate steps to amend its rules and procedures.

EFFECT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH & HOUSING COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill came from the Workforce Committee of the Children's Mental Health Work Group. For two hours spent with a client, the clinician might spend four to six hours doing paperwork. We can increase our workforce by decreasing their paperwork load. This is the best way to get more mileage out of existing funds. We have to be efficient and effective with the money we are spending. Please add components from the Senate bill. Please add a new provision exempting manualized models with their own documentation requirements from redundant state paperwork requirements. Paperwork kills, and creates burnout. We prefer the Senate version which is more robust. Three workgroups over the interim made this same recommendation.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Dent, Prime Sponsor; Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Kathryn Kolan, WA State Medical Assn.; Andrea Davis, Coordinated Care; Joan Miller, WA Council for Behavioral Health; Alicia Ferris, Community Youth Services; Gary Romjue, Catholic Community Services.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.