HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

[Filed December 28, 2021, 3:16 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 21-16-061.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 182-115-0100 Certified peer counselor—General, and 182-115-0200 Certified peer counselor—Application, training, examination, and authority approval.

Hearing Location(s): On February 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The health care authority (HCA) remains closed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. Until further notice, HCA continues to hold public hearings virtually without a physical meeting place. This promotes social distancing and the safety of the residents of Washington state. To attend the virtual public hearing, you must register in advance https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1xrodxXpRxCFb9iBSr0GHw. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the public hearing.

Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than February 9, 2022.

Submit Written Comments to: HCA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, email arc@hca.wa.gov, fax 360-586-9727, by February 8, 2022.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact HCA rules coordinator, phone 360-725-1306, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication[s] relay service 711, email arc@hca.wa.gov, by January 21, 2022.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The authority intends to adopt rules to define the process of becoming a behavioral health certified peer counselor.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: See purpose.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Not applicable.

Name of Proponent: HCA, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Valerie Freudenstein, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-1344; Implementation and Enforcement: Maureen Bailey, P.O. Box 55534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, 360-725-9997.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328.RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to HCA rules unless requested by the joint administrative rules review committee or applied voluntarily.

The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. The proposed rule does not impose any costs on businesses.

Chapter 182-115 WAC

CERTIFIED PEER COUNSELOR

WAC 182-115-0100Certified peer counselor—General.

(1) The authority recognizes a person as a certified peer counselor who can provide medicaid-reimbursable peer counseling services when the person meets the requirements in WAC 182-115-0200.

(2) Certified peer counselors who provide services to people enrolled in medicaid must be under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional and/or substance use disorder professional who understands rehabilitation and recovery. The clinical supervisor's expertise should be aligned with the needs of the populations served by the certified peer counselor.

(3) Certified peer counselors must provide services to people enrolled in medicaid under a licensed community behavioral health agency as defined in WAC 246-341-0200 and certified under WAC 246-341-0724.

WAC 182-115-0200Certified peer counselor—Application, training, examination, and authority approval.

(1) Applicants applying to become a certified peer counselor with the authority must meet all of the following:

(a) Self-identify as a person with lived experience in behavioral health recovery or as a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 18 who experienced behavioral health challenges;

(b) Demonstrate they have been well-grounded in their own recovery for at least one year and be willing to tell their recovery story;

(d) Meet the minimum education requirements of a high school diploma or GED. The authority may grant a waiver of this requirement;

(e) Be 18 years of age or older;

(f) Be credentialed as an agency affiliated counselor under chapter 18.19 RCW;

(g) Complete specialized training provided by or contracted through the authority. If the person was trained by trainers approved by the department of social and health services before October 1, 2004, and has met the requirements in (a), (b), and (f) of this subsection by January 31, 2005, the person is exempt from completing this specialized training; and

(h) Successfully pass the authority's examination.

(2) In order to take the authority's examination to become a certified peer counselor who can provide medicaid-reimbursable peer counseling services, applicants must:

(a) Successfully complete an approved certified peer counselor training course administered by the authority's approved training entity with approved trainers; and

(b) Pass the Washington state certified peer counseling examination with a score of 80 percent or higher.

(3) Upon successful completion of the authority's examination, the authority issues a letter stating the authority recognizes the person as a "certified peer counselor."