2SSB 6228 — Concerning treatment of substance use disorders.

What this bill does

Requires the length of an initial authorization for inpatient or residential substance use disorder treatment approved by the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), private health insurers, and Medicaid managed care organizations to be no less than 14 days from the date of admission. Prohibits the PEBB, private health insurers, and Medicaid managed care organizations from considering a patient's length of abstinence when determining whether services are medically necessary if the abstinence is due to incarceration or hospitalization. Directs the Health Care Authority to develop standardized clinical documentation requirements for initial authorization and concurrent utilization management review for residential treatment of substance use disorders. Adopts the American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria as the single standard set of criteria to define medical necessity for substance use disorder treatment and substance use disorder levels of care. Directs the Health Care Authority to conduct a gap analysis of nonemergency transportation benefits for Medicaid enrollees. Removes the limitation on the number of times that a credential may be renewed for certain behavioral health professionals practicing in a trainee or associate capacity.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House · February 29, 2024
  84 yea · 8 nay · 6 not voting
• Senate — Final Passage as Amended by the House · March 5, 2024
  49 yea · 0 nay
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · February 9, 2024
  49 yea · 0 nay

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Other bills sponsored by Dhingra

• 2SSB 5120 — Establishing crisis relief centers in Washington state.
• SSB 5171 — Addressing consumer gender discrimination.
• ESSB 5217 — Concerning the state's ability to regulate certain industries and risk classifications to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.
• SB 5228 — Providing occupational therapy services for persons with behavioral health disorders.
• SSB 5300 — Concerning continuity of coverage for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of behavioral health conditions.