SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5074
As of January 14, 2021
Title: An act relating to establishing safe station pilot programs for persons in need of substance use disorder treatment.
Brief Description: Establishing safe station pilot programs.
Sponsors: Senators Wagoner, Dhingra and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 1/13/21 [w/oRec-BH].
Behavioral Health Subcommittee to Health & Long Term Care: 1/15/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Directs the Health Care Authority to manage a grant program for fire stations to establish Safe Station programs.
  • Allows a certified substance use disorder peer specialist to be employed in a Safe Station program.
  • Confers priority to persons referred by Safe Station programs for admission into inpatient crisis services.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE TO HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Staff: Kevin Black (786-7747)
Background:

Substance Use Disorders.  A substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of alcohol or a legal or illegal drug or medication.

 

Fire Station CARES Programs in the State of Washington.  In 2013, the Legislature authorized, in law, fire departments to establish Community Assistance Referral and Education Services (CARES programs) for the purpose of providing community outreach and assistance to residents and improving population health and injury and illness prevention in the community.  CARES programs typically focus on members of the community who use the 911 system for nonemergency or nonurgent care, and may partner with local hospitals and provide internships for persons working towards a social work degree or license.  Community Paramedicine and Mobile Integrated Health Response are two health models used by CARES programs in Washington.  In 2017, the state amended the CARES legislation to allow for reimbursement to fire departments by the Medicaid program for health services that do not involve transport to an emergency departments.  A Department of Health report and study assignment to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee followed the 2017 legislation.


Origin of Safe Station Programs.  Safe Station is a substance use disorder screening and referral program that began in the cities of Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire, and has spread to other cities in the New England area.  A press release issued by the City of Providence, Rhode Island, indicates that as of June 2019, 12 Safe Station programs were deployed in the City of Providence.  Under the New England model, a Safe Station offers friendly and judgement-free screening at a fire department location for persons who believe they may have a need for substance use disorder treatment.  A Safe Station may provide a referral to community services and transportation for emergency medical services.

 

The Tacoma Fire Department established a Safe Station as part of its CARES program in August 2019.

 

Certified Substance Use Disorder Peer Specialists.  A certified substance use disorder peer is a person with lived experience of a substance use disorder who has completed a training and certification program administered by the Health Care Authority (HCA).  In 2019, coverage for the services of certified substance use disorder peer counselors was added to the state Medicaid program.  Because the peer certification is not a licensed health credential, Medicaid reimbursement is ordinarily only available for certified peer specialists who are able to work as agency-affiliated counselors at behavioral health agencies.

Summary of Bill:

Subject to appropriations, the HCA must manage a grant program to award funding to fire departments in the state of Washington to implement Safe Station pilot programs.  A Safe Station program is described as a program that provides scheduled drop-in services or may have a scheduled response unit to address and respond to substance use disorder treatment service inquiries at fire station locations, in which basic screening is provided by mental health professionals, substance use disorder professionals, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, or emergency medical technicians.

 

A certified substance use disorder peer specialist may be employed in a Safe Station pilot program.  Persons referred to crisis services by a Safe Station program have priority for admission to evaluation and treatment facilities and secure withdrawal management and stabilization facilities.

Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2020.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.