WSR 23-04-002
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed January 18, 2023, 4:30 p.m.]
NOTICE
Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 23-0010 Behavioral Health Services Update.
Effective Date: July 1, 2023.
Description: The health care authority (HCA) previously filed notice WSR 21-18-054 advising of the intent to submit SPA 21-0003 to update information in the medicaid state plan, Attachment 3, Section 13.d Rehabilitation Services to reformat the section to be more representative of the current behavioral health system (as opposed to the current structure which separates substance use disorder services and mental health services), reduce redundancies in the language, and update agency and licensing names.
SPA 21-0003 was not submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as planned due to ongoing updates and improvements to this section. Therefore, HCA intends to submit SPA 23-0010 to:
Reformat the section to be more representative of the current behavioral health system (as opposed to the current structure which separates substance use disorder services and mental health services);
Align with new formatting requirements from CMS;
Expand the provider types who can provide certain services, including being part of a crisis team, and those who can provide substance use disorder treatment services;
Remove outdated mental health peer support language;
Increase transition of care services available to people with a substance use disorder; and
If approved by the legislature, allow medicaid funds to be used on problem gambling treatment services, which are currently paid for with state funds.
This SPA update will create the foundation for future system/service improvements, including removing barriers to deliver more integrated care.
SPA 23-0010 is expected to have no material effect on the annual aggregate expenditures/payments for rehabilitation services not already accounted for through agency budget requests to the legislature.
To request a copy of the draft SPA or return any 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: Jessica Diaz, Managed Care Programs, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, TRS (TDD/TTY) 711, email jessica.diaz@hca.wa.gov.