Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit medicaid SPA 22-0032 in order to update the requirements in section 6 Other Licensed Practitioners in Attachment 3 of the medicaid state plan for licensed mental health professionals who provide outpatient mental health services to clients 18 years of age and younger to align with the requirements in RCW 71.34.020 and WAC 182-538D-0200.

Currently, the medicaid state plan states that these practitioners must have a minimum of two years' experience in the diagnosis and treatment of clients 18 and younger, including one year of supervision by a mental health professional trained in child and family mental health. This will be amended to reflect the requirements in RCW and WAC that require a minimum of 100 actual hours of specialized training devoted to the study of child development and the treatment of children, youth, and their families, and have the equivalent of one year of full-time experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children, youth, and their families under the supervision of a professional who meets these criteria.

A copy of SPA 22-0032 is available for review. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy of the SPA or submit comments, please contact the person named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).

CONTACT: Christine Cole, Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health, 626 7th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, phone 360-622-1321, TRS 711, email Christine.cole@hca.wa.gov.