The bill amends existing laws regarding the implementation timeline for the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) 4th edition criteria, which are treatment guidelines for addictive, substance-related, and co-occurring conditions. Specifically, it extends the deadline for Medicaid managed care organizations and carriers to begin using the updated criteria from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028. This change applies to both RCW 71.24.619 and RCW 48.43.764, ensuring that the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner will jointly determine the use of updated versions of the ASAM criteria and communicate their decision publicly.

The bill emphasizes the collaborative role of the health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner in deciding when to adopt the updated ASAM criteria, which includes versions for adolescents and transition-age youth. Both agencies are required to post notices of their decisions on their websites, ensuring transparency in the process. The extension of the implementation date allows for a more gradual transition to the new treatment criteria, potentially providing additional time for relevant entities to prepare for the changes.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 71.24.619, 48.43.764
Bill as Passed Legislature: 71.24.619, 48.43.764
Session Law: 71.24.619, 48.43.764