E2SHB 1432 — Improving access to appropriate mental health and substance use disorder services.

What this bill does

Defines medically necessary for purposes of requirements for health plans to provide coverage of mental health services. Modifies the definition of mental health services and repeals and recodifies the Mental Health Parity Act. Requires utilization review and clinical review criteria to be consistent with generally accepted standards of mental health and substance use disorder care and establishes other requirements for utilization review including prior authorization. Requires health carriers to approve coverage of mental health services that are the subject of a prescription drug exception request, an enrollee grievance, or appeal, or a prior authorization request if the health carrier does not respond to the request, grievance, or appeal within the applicable statutorily allowed time frame. Incorporates the requirements of the final rules issued September 23, 2024, related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into the act. Requires health carriers to provide meaningful benefits for mental health conditions and substance use disorder conditions it covers in every classification in which medical or surgical benefits are covered. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to assess civil penalties for certain violations and to adopt rules regarding specifying data requirements to determine plan design and in-operation parity compliance, specifying requirements relating to increasing in-network reimbursement rates for mental health services to address network inadequacies; and to ensure consistent utilization review and application of clinical review criteria.

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

Floor votes

• House — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · March 11, 2025
  72 yea · 23 nay · 3 not voting
• House — Final Passage as Amended by the Senate · April 22, 2025
  78 yea · 19 nay · 1 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate · April 14, 2025
  48 yea · 1 nay

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Other bills sponsored by Simmons

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• ESHB 2196 — Expanding access to PANDA PANS treatment.
• SHB 2339 — Concerning the regulation of nursing. (CORRECTED COPY)