The bill amends various sections of Washington state law to strengthen the role of certified peer support specialists in behavioral health services. It requires Medicaid integrated managed care contracts to include standards for the accessibility of peer services, mandating a comprehensive analysis of access to certified peer counselors and support specialists. The bill emphasizes the integration of these specialists, who are individuals in recovery from mental health or substance use disorders, into managed care organizations. Additionally, it establishes a new section allowing the authority to contract with external entities to expand access to peer support services, develop training courses, and explore reimbursement options for health carriers.

Key provisions include the establishment of a 40-hour specialized training course for certified peer support specialists in crisis response services, the introduction of definitions for "peer crisis responder" and "victim services agency," and the requirement for insurance carriers to provide access to certified peer support specialists by July 1, 2026. The bill also addresses certification fees, capping them for peer support specialists and substance use disorder professionals, and mandates the development of a statewide approach to leverage Medicaid funding for treatment. Furthermore, it outlines standards for mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams, emphasizing the need for culturally appropriate services and accountability through annual reporting on crisis hotline data.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 74.09.871, 18.420.005, 18.420.010, 18.420.020, 18.420.030, 18.420.040, 18.420.050, 18.130.180, 18.420.090, 18.420.800, 43.70.250, 48.43.825, 71.24.585, 71.24.903, 71.24.920, 71.24.922, 71.24.924, 71.40.040, 71.40.090
Substitute Bill: 74.09.871, 71.24.920, 18.420.005, 18.420.010, 18.420.020, 18.420.030, 18.420.040, 18.420.050, 18.130.180, 18.420.090, 18.420.800, 43.70.250, 48.43.825, 71.24.585, 71.24.903, 71.24.922, 71.24.924, 71.40.040, 71.40.090
Second Substitute: 74.09.871, 71.24.920, 18.420.005, 18.420.010, 18.420.020, 18.420.030, 18.420.040, 18.420.050, 18.130.180, 18.420.090, 18.420.800, 43.70.250, 48.43.825, 71.24.585, 71.24.903, 71.24.922, 71.24.924, 71.40.040, 71.40.090
Bill as Passed Legislature: 74.09.871, 71.24.920, 18.420.005, 18.420.010, 18.420.020, 18.420.030, 18.420.040, 18.420.050, 18.130.180, 18.420.090, 18.420.800, 43.70.250, 48.43.825, 71.24.585, 71.24.903, 71.24.922, 71.24.924, 71.40.040, 71.40.090
Session Law: 74.09.871, 71.24.920, 18.420.005, 18.420.010, 18.420.020, 18.420.030, 18.420.040, 18.420.050, 18.130.180, 18.420.090, 18.420.800, 43.70.250, 48.43.825, 71.24.585, 71.24.903, 71.24.922, 71.24.924, 71.40.040, 71.40.090