The bill introduces new regulations under the Truth in Mental Health Coverage Act aimed at improving access to mental health and substance use services in Washington. It highlights significant disparities in access to these services compared to medical and surgical services, with data indicating that residents are far more likely to receive behavioral health services out-of-network. The bill mandates that health carriers submit detailed annual reports to the commissioner, including data on coverage and access for various types of services, disaggregated by factors such as facility type and age group. This data will support independent evaluations and enhance public understanding of access to care.

Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to create uniform reporting templates and maintain a public dashboard that presents the collected data in a user-friendly manner. This dashboard will allow for comparisons across carriers and will be updated regularly to ensure transparency. The legislation emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting and accountability, with carriers required to certify the completeness and accuracy of their data submissions. The provisions of this act will apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and it includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found invalid, the rest remains effective.