Title 74 — Title 74 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Authority" means the Washington state health care authority.(2) "Bidirectional integration" means integrating behavioral health services into primary care settings and…

To the extent that sufficient funding is provided specifically for this purpose, the authority shall provide all persons receiving services under this chapter with access to a twenty-four hour, seven day a week nurse hotline. The authority shall determine the most appropriate way…

(1) To the extent of available funds, medical care services may be provided to:(a) Victims of human trafficking, as defined in RCW 74.04.005, who are not eligible for medicaid under RCW 74.09.510, section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the social security act, or apple health for kid…

Any card issued by the authority or a managed health care system to a person receiving services under this chapter, that must be presented to providers for purposes of claims processing, may not display an identification number that includes more than a four-digit portion of the …

(1) The director shall appoint such professional personnel and other assistants and employees, including professional medical screeners, as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter or other applicable law. The medical screeners shall be supervised b…

(1) Beginning in November 2012, the department of social and health services, in coordination with the health care authority, shall by November 15th of each year report to the legislature:(a) The number of medical assistance recipients who: (i) Upon enrollment or recertification …

The authority is authorized to establish copayment, deductible, or coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements for recipients of any medical programs defined in RCW 74.09.010 or other applicable law, except that premiums shall not be imposed on children in households at or be…

The department or authority, as appropriate, shall provide (1) for evaluation of employability when a person is applying for public assistance representing a medical condition as a basis for need, and (2) for medical reports to be used in the evaluation of total and permanent dis…

In carrying out the administrative responsibility of this chapter or other applicable law, the department or authority, as appropriate:(1) May contract with an individual or a group, may utilize existing local state public assistance offices, or establish separate welfare medical…

(1) The department shall purchase nursing home care by contract and payment for the care shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter 74.46 RCW and rules adopted by the department. No payment shall be made to a nursing home which does not permit inspection by the authori…

All personnel employed in the administration of the medical care program shall be covered by the existing merit system under the Washington personnel resources board.[ 1993 c 281 s 66; 1959 c 26 s 74.09.150. Prior: 1955 c 273 s 16.]Notes:Effective date—1993 c 281: See note follow…

Each vendor or group who has a contract and is rendering service to eligible persons as defined in this chapter or other applicable law shall submit such charges as agreed upon between the department or authority, as appropriate, and the individual or group no later than twelve m…

(1) The legislature finds that the authority and the department purchase or contract for the delivery of medicaid programs through contracts with providers and managed care organizations under this chapter, contractors providing behavioral health services under chapters 71.24 and…

(1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to recipients whose personal injuries are occasioned by negligence or wrong of another: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the director may furnish assistance, under the provisions of this chapter, for the results of injuries to or illness …

To the extent that payment for covered expenses has been made under medical assistance for health care items or services furnished to an individual, in any case where a third party has a legal liability to make payments, the state is considered to have acquired the rights of the …

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as empowering the secretary or director to compel any recipient of public assistance and a medical indigent person to undergo any physical examination, surgical operation, or accept any form of medical treatment contrary to the wishes of…

(1) Audits of the records of health care providers performed under this chapter are subject to the following:(a) The authority must provide at least thirty calendar days' notice before scheduling any on-site audit, unless there is evidence of danger to public health and safety or…

The legislature finds and declares it to be in the public interest and for the protection of the health and welfare of the residents of the state of Washington that a proper regulatory and inspection program be instituted in connection with the providing of medical, dental, and o…

(1) No person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, institution, or other legal entity, but not including an individual public assistance recipient of health care, shall, on behalf of himself or herself or others, obtain or attempt to obtain benefits or payments u…

The medicaid fraud penalty account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from civil penalties collected under RCW 74.09.210, all receipts received under judgments or settlements that originated under a filing under the federal false claims act, all receipts from fines re…

Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, institution or other legal entity, but not including an individual public assistance recipient of health care, that, without intent to violate this chapter or other applicable law, obtains benefits or payments under…

Any person, including any corporation, that(1) knowingly makes or causes to be made any false statement or representation of a material fact in any application for any payment under any medical care program authorized under this chapter or other applicable law, or(2) at any time …

(1) Any person, including any corporation, that solicits or receives any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate) directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind(a) in return for referring an individual to a person for the furnishing or arranging fo…

Any person, including any corporation, that knowingly makes or causes to be made, or induces or seeks to induce the making of, any false statement or representation of a material fact with respect to the conditions or operations of any institution or facility in order that such i…

Any person, including any corporation, that knowingly:(1) Charges, for any service provided to a patient under any medical care plan authorized under this chapter or other applicable law, money or other consideration at a rate in excess of the rates established by the department …

(1) Any person having any patient trust funds in his or her possession, custody, or control, who, knowing that he or she is violating any statute, regulation, or agreement, deliberately fails to deposit, transfer, or maintain said funds in a separate, designated, trust bank accou…

The secretary or director may by rule require that any application, statement, or form filled out by suppliers of medical care under this chapter or other applicable law shall contain or be verified by a written statement that it is made under the penalties of perjury and such de…

The secretary or director shall have the authority to:(1) Conduct audits and investigations of providers of medical and other services furnished pursuant to this chapter or other applicable law, except that the Washington medical commission shall generally serve in an advisory ca…

It is permissible to provide to a correctional institution, as defined in RCW 9.94.049, with the fact, place, and date of an involuntary commitment and the fact and date of discharge or release of a person who has been involuntarily committed under chapter 71.05 or 71.34 RCW, wit…

Whenever the secretary or director imposes a civil penalty under RCW 74.09.210, or terminates or suspends a provider's eligibility under RCW 74.09.290, he or she shall, if the provider is licensed pursuant to Titles 18, 70, or 71 RCW, give written notice of such imposition, termi…

(1) For the purposes of this section:(a) "Employer" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, agency, institution, or other legal entity.(b) "Whistleblower" means an employee of an employer that obtains or attempts to obtain benefits or payments under this ch…

(1)(a) All managed care organizations contracted with the authority for the medicaid program shall reimburse a provider for a health care service provided to a covered person through telemedicine or store and forward technology if:(i) The managed care organization in which the co…

(1) The authority shall adopt rules regarding medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement for services delivered through audio-only telemedicine. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the rules must establish a manner of reimbursement for audio-only telemedicine that i…

(1) In order to protect patients and ensure that they benefit from seamless quality care when contracted providers are absent from their practices or when there is a temporary vacancy in a position while a hospital, rural health clinic, or rural provider is recruiting to meet pat…

The authority shall develop a reimbursement methodology for ambulance services when transporting a medical assistance enrollee to a mental health facility or chemical dependency program in accordance with the applicable alternative facility procedures adopted under RCW 70.168.100…

The authority shall adopt standards for the reimbursement of health care services provided to eligible clients by fire departments pursuant to a community assistance referral and education services program under RCW 35.21.930. The standards must allow payment for covered health c…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 72.36.160, beginning July 1, 2023, the personal needs allowance for clients being served in medical institutions and in residential settings is $100.(2) Beginning January 1, 2024, and each year thereafter, the personal needs allowance for clients bei…

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall expand the access to baby and child dentistry (ABCD) program to include eligible children as clients.(2) Once enrolled in the program, eligible children must be covered until th…

(1) The authority, in consultation with the office of equity, created in chapter 332, Laws of 2020, shall work with the statewide managing partner of the access to baby and child dentistry program to develop a local access to baby and child dentistry program fund allocation formu…

(1) The legislature finds that:(a) Improving the health of children in Washington state is an investment in a productive and successful next generation. The health of children is critical to their success in school and throughout their lives;(b) Healthy children are ready to lear…

(1) The legislature finds that parents have a responsibility to:(a) Enroll their children in affordable health coverage;(b) Ensure that their children receive appropriate well-child preventive care;(c) Link their child with a medical home; and(d) Understand and act upon the healt…

(1) Consistent with the goals established in RCW 74.09.402, through the apple health for kids program authorized in this section, the authority shall provide affordable health care coverage to children under the age of nineteen who reside in Washington state and whose family inco…

For apple health for kids, the department shall not count the twenty-five dollar increase paid as part of an individual's weekly benefit amount when determining family income, eligibility, and payment levels.[ 2023 c 51 s 41; 2011 c 4 s 19.]Notes:Effective date—2011 c 4 ss 1-6 an…

(1) Effective January 1, 2018, the authority shall require that all health care facilities that provide newborn delivery services to medical assistance clients establish policies and procedures to provide:(a) Skin-to-skin placement of the newborn on the mother's chest immediately…

(1) The authority, in collaboration with the department of health, department of social and health services, health carriers, local public health jurisdictions, children's health care providers including pediatricians, family practitioners, *advanced registered nurse practitioner…

(1) The authority, in consultation with the evidence-based practice institute established in RCW 71.24.061, shall develop and implement policies to improve prescribing practices for treatment of emotional or behavioral disturbances in children, improve the quality of children's m…

(1) To better assure and understand issues related to network adequacy and access to services, the authority shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, on the status of access to behavioral health services for child…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2429-S2.SL) ***(1) The children and youth behavioral health work group is established to:(a) Identify barriers to and opportunities for accessing behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults and their families;(b) Strengthen and bui…

(1) By August 1, 2017, the authority must complete a review of payment codes available to health plans and providers related to primary care and behavioral health. The review must include adjustments to payment rules if needed to facilitate bidirectional integration. The review m…

There is hereby established a new program of federal-aid assistance to be known as medical assistance to be administered by the authority. The authority is authorized to comply with the federal requirements for the medical assistance program provided in the social security act an…