Section 43.20A.894. Behavioral health organizations—Contracting process.

(1) Any agreement or contract by the department or the health care authority to provide behavioral health services as defined under RCW 71.24.025 to persons eligible for benefits under medicaid, Title XIX of the social security act, and to persons not eligible for medicaid must include the following:

(a) Contractual provisions consistent with the intent expressed in RCW 71.24.015, 71.36.005, * 70.96A.010, and ** 70.96A.011;

(b) Standards regarding the quality of services to be provided, including increased use of evidence-based, research-based, and promising practices, as defined in RCW 71.24.025;

(c) Accountability for the client outcomes established in RCW 43.20A.895, 70.320.020, and 71.36.025 and performance measures linked to those outcomes;

(d) Standards requiring behavioral health organizations to maintain a network of appropriate providers that is supported by written agreements sufficient to provide adequate access to all services covered under the contract with the department or the health care authority and to protect essential existing behavioral health system infrastructure and capacity, including a continuum of chemical dependency services;

(e) Provisions to require that medically necessary chemical dependency and mental health treatment services be available to clients;

(f) Standards requiring the use of behavioral health service provider reimbursement methods that incentivize improved performance with respect to the client outcomes established in RCW 43.20A.895 and 71.36.025, integration of behavioral health and primary care services at the clinical level, and improved care coordination for individuals with complex care needs;

(g) Standards related to the financial integrity of the responding organization. The department shall adopt rules establishing the solvency requirements and other financial integrity standards for behavioral health organizations. This subsection does not limit the authority of the department to take action under a contract upon finding that a behavioral health organization's financial status jeopardizes the organization's ability to meet its contractual obligations;

(h) Mechanisms for monitoring performance under the contract and remedies for failure to substantially comply with the requirements of the contract including, but not limited to, financial deductions, termination of the contract, receivership, reprocurement of the contract, and injunctive remedies;

(i) Provisions to maintain the decision-making independence of designated mental health professionals or designated chemical dependency specialists; and

(j) Provisions stating that public funds appropriated by the legislature may not be used to promote or deter, encourage, or discourage employees from exercising their rights under Title 29, chapter 7, subchapter II, United States Code or chapter 41.56 RCW.

(2) The following factors must be given significant weight in any purchasing process:

(a) Demonstrated commitment and experience in serving low-income populations;

(b) Demonstrated commitment and experience serving persons who have mental illness, chemical dependency, or co-occurring disorders;

(c) Demonstrated commitment to and experience with partnerships with county and municipal criminal justice systems, housing services, and other critical support services necessary to achieve the outcomes established in RCW 43.20A.895, 70.320.020, and 71.36.025;

(d) Recognition that meeting enrollees' physical and behavioral health care needs is a shared responsibility of contracted behavioral health organizations, managed health care systems, service providers, the state, and communities;

(e) Consideration of past and current performance and participation in other state or federal behavioral health programs as a contractor; and

(f) The ability to meet requirements established by the department.

(3) For purposes of purchasing behavioral health services and medical care services for persons eligible for benefits under medicaid, Title XIX of the social security act and for persons not eligible for medicaid, the department and the health care authority must use common regional service areas. The regional service areas must be established by the department and the health care authority as provided in RCW 43.20A.893.

(4) Consideration must be given to using multiple-biennia contracting periods.

(5) Each behavioral health organization operating pursuant to a contract issued under this section shall enroll clients within its regional service area who meet the department's eligibility criteria for mental health and chemical dependency services.

[ 2014 c 225 § 3.]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 70.96A.010 was repealed by 2016 1st sp.s. c 29 § 601.

**(2) RCW 70.96A.011 was repealed by 2016 1st sp.s. c 29 § 301, effective April 1, 2018.

2014 c 225 § 3.