(1) The health care authority shall apply for a waiver allowing the state to provide medicaid services to persons who are confined in a correctional institution as defined in RCW 9.94.049 or confined in a state hospital or other treatment facility up to 30 days prior to the person's release or discharge to the community. The purpose is to create continuity of care and provide reentry services.

(2) The health care authority shall consult with the work group established under RCW 71.24.710 about how to optimize the waiver application and its chance of success, including by limiting its scope if deemed appropriate.

(3) The health care authority shall inform the governor and relevant committees of the legislature in writing when the waiver application is submitted and update them as to progress of the waiver at appropriate points.

(4) No provision of this section may be interpreted to require the health care authority to provide medicaid services to persons who are confined in a correctional institution, state hospital, or other treatment facility up to 30 days prior to the person's release or discharge unless the health care authority obtains final approval for its waiver application from the centers for medicare and medicaid services.

Findings—2021 c 243: See note following RCW 74.09.670.