WSR 24-16-122
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed August 6, 2024, 10:10 a.m.]
NOTICE
Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 24-0035 Update Physician Assistant Information; Add Certified Behavioral Health Support Specialists and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associates, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associates, Licensed Advance Social Worker Associates, and Licensed Independent Social Worker Associates as SBIRT Providers.
Effective Date: January 1, 2025.
Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit SPA 24-0035 to:
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| • | Comply with HB 2041 which replaces the supervision model with the collaborative practice model for physician assistants (PA). SPA 24-0035 will remove the requirement for PAs to be supervised by a physician when providing such services. |
| • | Comply with SB 5189 adding certified behavioral health support specialists (BHSS) as medicaid providers who deliver brief, evidence-based interventions that include behavioral health under the supervision of a state credentialed provider whose scope of practice includes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of identifiable mental and behavioral health conditions. BHSS will be added as providers of screening, brief interventions, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) services. |
| • | Simplify the existing list of providers and add certified behavioral health specialists, licensed mental health counselor associates, licensed marriage and family therapist associates, licensed advance social worker associates, and licensed independent social worker associates as providers of SBIRT services. |
| • | Update the title "chemical dependency professional" with "substance use disorder professional" in the list of health care professionals who can provide Collaborative Care services. |
SPA 24-0035 is expected to have no effect on annual aggregate expenditures/payments for physician assistants, certified behavioral health support specialists, licensed mental health counselor associates, licensed marriage and family therapist associates, licensed advance social worker associates, and licensed independent social worker associates.
HCA is in the process of developing the SPA. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy of the SPA when it becomes available or submit comments, you may contact the persons named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment). Please submit comments by September 9, 2024.
CONTACTS: Andrea Allen and Yvonne Keller, Program Managers, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, TRS 711, email andrea.allen@hca.wa.gov and yvonne.keller@hca.wa.gov.