WSR 25-10-050
PROPOSED RULES
HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
[Filed May 1, 2025, 12:10 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-07-048.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 182-531-0425 Collaborative care.
Hearing Location(s): On June 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The health care authority (HCA) holds public hearings virtually without a physical meeting place. To attend the virtual public hearing, you must register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RL4mX3veTMyprKg2HFDoHA. If the link above opens with an error message, please try using a different browser. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the public hearing.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than June 11, 2025.
Submit Written Comments to: HCA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, email arc@hca.wa.gov, fax 360-586-9727, beginning May 2, 2025, 8:00 a.m., by June 10, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Johanna Larson, phone 360-725-1349, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay service 711, email Johanna.Larson@hca.wa.gov, by May 23, 2025.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: HCA is revising this section to add behavior health support specialists as a provider as part of the collaborative care team.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See purpose.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, and 18.227.100.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, and 18.227.100.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: HCA, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Valerie Freudenstein, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-1344; Implementation and Enforcement: Brian Miller, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-5304.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to HCA rules unless requested by the joint administrative rules review committee or applied voluntarily.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal from Regulatory Fairness Act requirements:
Is not exempt.
The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. This rule is expanding the providers who can be a part of the collaborative care team; therefore, it does not impose more-than-minor costs on small businesses.
May 1, 2025
Wendy Barcus
Rules Coordinator
RDS-6235.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 24-21-163, filed 10/23/24, effective 11/23/24)
WAC 182-531-0425Collaborative care.
(1) Under the authority of RCW 74.09.497, and subject to available funds, the medicaid agency covers collaborative care provided in clinical care settings.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) Collaborative care means a specific type of integrated care where medical providers and behavioral health providers work together to address behavioral health conditions, including mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
(b) Collaborative care model is a model of behavior health integration that enhances usual clinical care by adding two key services:
(i) Care management support for clients receiving behavioral health treatment; and
(ii) Regular psychiatric or board certified addiction medicine consultation with the clinical care team, particularly for clients whose conditions are not improving.
(c) Collaborative care team means a team of licensed behavioral health professionals operating within their scope of practice who participate on the clinical care team along with the collaborative care billing provider to provide collaborative care to eligible clients. The team must include a collaborative care billing provider, a behavioral health care manager, and a psychiatric consultant. Professionals making up this team include, but are not limited to:
(i) Advanced registered nurses;
(ii) Substance use disorder professionals (SUDP);
(iii) Substance use disorder professional trainees (SUDPT) under the supervision of a certified SUDP;
(iv) Marriage and family therapists;
(v) Marriage and family therapist associates under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist or equally qualified mental health practitioner;
(vi) Mental health counselors;
(vii) Mental health counselor associates under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor, psychiatrist, or physician;
(viii) Physicians;
(ix) Physician assistants;
(x) Psychiatrists;
(xi) Psychiatric advanced registered nurses;
(xii) Psychologists;
(xiii) Registered nurses;
(xiv) Social workers;
(xv) Social worker associate-independent clinical, under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker or equally qualified mental health practitioner; ((and))
(xvi) Social worker associate-advanced, under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker, advanced social worker, or equally qualified mental health practitioner; and
(xvii) Behavioral health support specialists under the supervision of a licensed practitioner whose scope of practice includes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of identifiable mental and behavioral health conditions.
(3) The behavioral health care manager is a designated licensed professional with formal education or specialized training in behavioral health (including social work, nursing, or psychology), working under the oversight and direction of the treating medical provider.
(4) The collaborative care billing provider must meet all of the following:
(a) Be enrolled with the agency as one of the following:
(i) A physician licensed under Titles 18 RCW and 246 WAC;
(ii) An advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under Titles 18 RCW and 246 WAC;
(iii) A federally qualified health center (FQHC);
(iv) A rural health clinic (RHC); or
(v) A clinic that is not an FQHC or RHC that meets the requirements of Titles 70 RCW and 247 WAC.
(b) Complete, sign, and return the Attestation for Collaborative Care Model, form HCA 13-0017, to the agency; and
(c) Agree to follow the agency's guidelines for practicing a collaborative care model.
(5) Providers of collaborative care must:
(a) Use a registry to track the client's clinical outcomes;
(b) Use at least one validated clinical rating scale;
(c) Ensure the registry is used in conjunction with the practice's electronic health records (EHR);
(d) Include a plan of care; and
(e) Identify outcome goals of the treatments.
(6) If a provider no longer meets the agreed upon requirements in the agency's Attestation for Collaborative Care Model, form HCA 13-0017, the provider must immediately notify the agency. The agency does not pay for collaborative care if a provider does not meet the agreed upon requirements.
(7) Providers are subject to post pay review by the agency. The agency may recoup payment if the provider is found to have not met the requirements for providing collaborative care as agreed to in the agency's Attestation for Collaborative Care Model, form HCA 13-0017.