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PDFWAC 284-170-285

Mental health and substance use disorder web page model format and required content.

(1) Not later than July 1, 2021, carriers must establish and maintain a web page entitled "Important Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Information" that complies with the requirements in this section. By July 1, 2021, carriers must prominently post the information in subsections (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of this section on their website so that a member may easily locate it. By March 1, 2023, carriers must conspicuously post the information in subsection (4) of this section related to coverage of behavioral health emergency services on their website so that a member can easily locate it.
(2) A member must be able to link to the web page from their portal landing page if the carrier provides members with a portal. If the carrier does not provide members with a personal electronic portal, the carrier must place a link to the web page that is visually prominent and easily located on the health plan's network information page.
(3) A carrier's transparency tool(s) must include the information required in this section to the extent that it is required by RCW 48.43.007(2).
(4) The web page must contain a section that explains what to do if an enrollee or their dependent is experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder emergency or crisis. This section must specifically include, but is not limited to, links and information for the National Suicide Prevention hotline, a statement that the health plan will cover, without any prior authorization requirement, emergency behavioral health services provided by an emergency behavioral health services provider, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, whether the provider is a participating or nonparticipating provider, and identify additional resources for emergency or crisis intervention within an enrollee's service area and within Washington state that provide support and services for mental health or substance use disorder emergencies or crises. The content for this portion of the web page must emphasize the ways an enrollee or their personal representative can receive emergency or crisis services covered by their health plan, from public health resources, or other private health resources in nontechnical and consumer-friendly language. This section must be above the fold and visually prominent on the mental health and substance use disorder web page.
(5) The web page must contain accurate information explaining the following information, based on the health plan network's access and adequacy standards for mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services:
(a) How an enrollee can find in-network mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services in their service area;
(b) What an enrollee may do if covered services are not available in their service area or the enrollee cannot obtain access to scheduling an appointment from an in-network provider within 10 business days for mental health and substance use disorder services covered as primary care and 15 business days for those covered as specialty care; and
(c) A description of access to services based on the applicable time frames, such as the following: "If the enrollee seeks covered mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for which the enrollee needs a referral or is covered as specialty care, an appointment must be made available to the enrollee within 15 days of requesting one. If the requested service does not require a referral or is not specialty care, the appointment must be made available within 10 business days of making a request for an appointment. If an enrollee is unable to schedule an appointment within the applicable number of business days, the carrier must assist with scheduling an appointment."
(6) By June 30th of each year, the commissioner shall post a report identifying, by carrier, the number of consumer complaints, asserting an inability to access mental health or substance use disorder services within 10 business days for primary care and 15 business days for specialty care, that were submitted to the commissioner during the prior calendar year. A carrier's "Important Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Information" web page must include a link to this report, and must update the link to the office of the insurance commissioner's web page on which the report is posted.
(7) If the commissioner has disciplined the carrier for violating the network standards set forth in this chapter or Title 48.43 RCW, with regard to mental health or substance use disorder treatment and services, the carrier must post a link to each order of enforcement or disciplinary action posted on the commissioner's website within 30 days of the commissioner posting the order on the office of the insurance commissioner's website. An order may be removed from the carrier's website three years after the issue date of the order or completion of the corrective action plan associated with the order, whichever is later.
Carriers may indicate when a corrective action plan associated with the order is completed and carriers may include an explanation of the actions it has taken to address the enforcement or disciplinary action.
(8) The web page must contain a section titled "How to File a Complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner" and refer users to the OIC complaint form at https://www.insurance.wa.gov/file-complaint-or-check-your-complaint-status.com or the commissioner's toll-free insurance consumer hotline at 1- 800-562-6900.
(9) The commissioner may review the web page for accuracy and conformance with the requirements of this section when an enrollee complaint is received about access to mental health or substance use disorder services, or at any time as the commissioner deems necessary to ensure the carrier is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(10) Carriers may include its logo and identifying information on the web page.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 48.43.820, 48.49.180, 48.49.110, and 48.02.060. WSR 23-01-110 (Matter R 2022-02), § 284-170-285, filed 12/19/22, effective 1/19/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 48.02.060 and 48.43.765. WSR 21-01-094 (Matter No. R 2019-05), § 284-170-285, filed 12/11/20, effective 1/11/21.]
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