The Health Care Authority.  The Health Care Authority (HCA) is the state behavioral health authority.  HCA purchases health services for children and families through the Medicaid program and administers a number of programs related to behavioral health services for children and adolescents, including the Children's Long-Term Inpatient Program, reviews for family-initiated treatment, and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group.  

Health Care Authority Annual Survey.  HCA is required to conduct an annual survey of a sample group of parents, youth, and behavioral health providers to measure the impacts of implementing minor behavioral health policies that were established in law in 2019.  These annual surveys must be completed for three years ending on July 1, 2022.  The HCA must submit a report on the results of the surveys to the Governor and the Legislature, with a final report due November 1, 2022.

State Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy.  In 2021, the State Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy was created to establish rules, standards, and procedures for behavioral health consumer advocacy services across the state.  The State Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy must contract with a private nonprofit organization to provide behavioral health consumer advocacy services including certifying and coordinating the activities of behavioral health advocates across the state.

HCA must dedicate at least one full-time employee to:

• connecting families, behavioral health providers, educators, and other stakeholders with current information about law and policy related to behavioral health services for minors;
• creating shareable content appropriate for communicating policy and resources related to behavioral health services for minors;
• designing and maintaining a communications plan involving social media and other forms of outreach; and
• monitoring the HCA website to ensure its information is accurate and communicated in a manner accessible to families.

HCA must convene stakeholders including parents, caregivers, youth, and young adults to design and implement a parent portal to connect families to service and education infrastructure related to behavioral health services for minors.  HCA must provide a report describing these activities to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2022.

Instead of conducting an annual survey, HCA must conduct annual stakeholder engagement efforts with parents, youth, and behavioral health providers, including live events soliciting feedback from stakeholders and other means to solicit feedback, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, concluding with a final report including recommendations by November 1, 2024.

The membership of the statewide advisory council to the State Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy is increased by the addition of:

• two parents or caregivers of a child who received behavioral health services, including at least one who received complex, multisystem behavioral health services; and
• two representatives of Medicaid managed care organizations, one of which must provide managed care to children and youth receiving child welfare services.

Behavioral health consumer advocates certified by the State Office of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy must receive training in behavioral health services for minors.