Washington House Bill 1086 – 2021-22: Creating The State Office Of Behavioral Health Consumer Advocacy

The legislation went into effect on July 25, 2021. It calls for the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) to change its approach to behavioral health ombudsman and advocacy programs. Currently, HCA contracts to ten regional Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organizations (BH-ASO) within the state. These BH-ASOs provide ombuds and advocacy services to non-Medicaid beneficiaries.

Under the new approach, the regional ombuds programs will be integrated into the new statewide program. The statewide office will assess and certify regional behavioral health ombuds programs as behavioral health consumer advocates. The statewide office will provide the regional ombuds programs with . . .