Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care & Wellness Committee
HB 2437
Brief Description: Establishing fee authority for accreditation services provided to opioid treatment programs by the department of health.
Sponsors: Representatives Lekanoff, Parshley, Ryu, Peterson, Simmons, Ramel, Davis, Macri and Nance; by request of Department of Health.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes the Department of Health (Department) to become an accrediting body for opioid treatment programs.
  • Directs the Department to establish accreditation fees to cover the costs associated with accreditation activities.
Hearing Date: 1/20/26
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:

Opioid Treatment Programs.
Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are programs that engage in the treatment of opioid use disorder with medications approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder and reversal of opioid overdose and provide a comprehensive range of medical and rehabilitative services.  An OTP may order, possess, dispense, and administer medications approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, and reversal of opioid overdose.  

 

An OTP must be licensed as a behavioral health agency by the Department of Health (Department) and meet other regulatory requirements specific to operating as an OTP.  Among the requirements, an OTP must meet accreditation standards set by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The Department has been approved by SAMHSA as an accrediting body for OTPs in Washington.  The Department does not charge a fee to applicants for its accreditation services.

 

Opioid Abatement Settlement Account.
The Opioid Abatement Settlement Account (Account) is an appropriated account that includes settlement money designated to be used by the state to abate the opioid epidemic.  Expenditures from the Account may only be used for future opioid remediation.  The activities include the care, treatment, and other programs and expenditures to address the use and abuse of opioid products, treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders, or mitigate other alleged effects of the opioid epidemic.  In addition, the State Treasurer must make annual transfers from the Account into the Tribal Opioid Prevention and Treatment Account.
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Health (Department) is authorized to apply to the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to become an accrediting body for opioid treatment programs.  If the Department is approved, it must perform its accrediting-body  responsibilities according to policies and procedures approved by the DHHS.  In addition, the Department must establish accreditation fees in rule, at levels sufficient to cover the costs associated with the accreditation activities.  The Department may use appropriations from the Opioid Abatement Settlement Account to offset the cost of providing accreditation services.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 13, 2026.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.