SB 6452-S - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Requires the state health care authority, in collaboration with the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Seattle Children's Hospital to implement a two-year pilot program, beginning January 1, 2019, called the partnership access line for moms and kids to: (1) Support obstetricians, pediatricians, primary care providers, mental health professionals, and other health care professionals providing care to pregnant women and new mothers, through same-day telephone consultations, in the assessment and provision of appropriate diagnosis and treatment of depression in pregnant women and new mothers; and

(2) Facilitate referrals to children's mental health services and other resources for parents and guardians with concerns related to the mental health of the parent or guardian's child.

Requires the state health care authority to: (1) Enforce requirements in managed care contracts to ensure care coordination and network adequacy issues are addressed in order to remove barriers to access to certain mental health services; and

(2) Convene the University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital, medicaid managed care organizations, organizations connecting families to children's mental health services and providers, health insurance carriers, and the office of the insurance commissioner to recommend an alternative funding model for the partnership access line and a strategy to ensure that expanded services for the partnership access line do not duplicate existing requirements for medicaid managed care organizations.