If you're a parent or a caregiver of a person who relies on Medicaid for Mental Health/Behavioral Health services, you've likely experienced long waiting lists, and limited access to providers. This is in part due to poor reimbursement rates. There has not been a rate adjustment for these providers since 2007, and as you know cost of living has skyrocketed in our state in that time.

House Bill (HB) 2584 - Establishing rates for behavioral health services - Requires the Health Care Authority (HCA) to work with actuaries in implementing funded behavioral health (BH) rate increases to assure appropriate adjustments are made to services paid through a case rate.

The bill states "The process must include a method for determining if the funds have increased access to the behavioral health services offered by the behavioral health providers who are the subject of the targeted provider rate increases." But it does not specify whether those whether Licensed Behavior Analysts, who are most often part of a treatment plan for a person with autism are included in this bill.

Please Lend us your voice! Ask for Licensed Behavior Analysts to be included HB 2584.

• Call Representative Michelle Caldier, of the 26th legislative District(Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Artondale, Lakebary) @ (360) 786 - 7802  
• Ask to speak to her legislative Assistant, Dominic Sosa, let him know you are calling on behalf of Washington Autism Alliance and as a parent/caregiver of a loved one  with autism, and HB2584 is important to you.
• Thank Rep. Caldier for sponsoring this important bill and ask her to please include Licensed Behavior Analysts in the list of providers that are covered in her bill.

Thank you for your consideration.

Arzu Forough