As of April 1, the Southwest Washington region, containing Clark and Skamania County, is the first to go live with behavioral health financial integration. This means that physical health services, all levels of mental health services, and drug and alcohol treatment are coordinated through managed care plans. This move discontinues the Regional Support Network benefit in these two counties. This is the first test of the financial integration model that will be rolled out to the rest of the state by 2020.
Medicaid clients must choose to enroll in either Community Health Plan of Washington or Molina Healthcare of Washington. If they do not choose, they are auto-enrolled into one of the two plans. Each plan is responsible for providing integrated services that include inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, including all substance use disorder services, inpatient mental health and all levels of outpatient mental health services. Each plan is also responsible for its own provider credentialing, prior authorization requirements and billing requirements. WSHA will monitor developments in the region. (Chelene Whiteaker)
