New requirements for managed care organizations and inpatient behavioral health providers

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 12/05/2022 04:36 PM PST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Inpatient behavioral health discharges for those with homelessness and housing instability

New requirements for managed care organizations (MCOs) and inpatient behavioral health providers will begin January 1, 2023.

This legislative requirement includes notification and coordination for individuals discharging from inpatient behavioral health settings to support discharge to stable housing.

What are the new requirements?

Inpatient behavioral health providers and MCOs are required to collaborate on housing care coordination for discharge planning for individuals in inpatient behavioral health settings regarding MCO enrollees who need such services.
Inpatient behavioral health providers are required to notify a patient’s MCO 24 hours or more prior to discharge, or on the day of for persons leaving against medical advice. Notification must include housing instability or homelessness risk.

Best practices to support housing care coordination are encouraged and include early notification of housing barriers and coordination of discharge plan between provider and MCOs.

How will this affect providers?

Providers will:

Address housing status and housing instability risk identification in provider processes, e.g., admission screening
Include housing status and needs in MCO notifications
Collaborate with MCOs in discharge planning and housing-related care coordination
Support individuals discharging from inpatient behavioral health settings with recovery through coordination of stable housing

How will this affect MCOs?

MCOs will:

Receive and process notifications from providers
Collaborate with providers in discharge planning and housing care coordination
Support individuals discharging from inpatient behavioral health settings with recovery through coordination of stable housing

Provider training

Virtual provider training is scheduled for the following dates:

December 15, 2022, at 11-11:30 a.m.
January 11, 2023, at 12-12:30 p.m. This session will be recorded and posted on Association of Washington Healthcare Plans (AWHP) website.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

Disclosure notice

All messages we send via GovDelivery are subject to public disclosure, as are the names and email addresses of those who sign up for email notifications.

Nondiscrimination

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.