This bill amends existing laws regarding the implementation timeline for the ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) 4th edition treatment criteria 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. The health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner are tasked with jointly determining whether to adopt the updated version of the ASAM Criteria and will notify the public of their decision via their websites.

The bill emphasizes the importance of timely updates to treatment criteria while allowing for a more extended period for implementation. This change aims to ensure that relevant entities have adequate time to prepare for the transition to the new criteria, which includes versions tailored for adolescents and transition-age youth.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 71.24.619, 48.43.764