As part of the system transformation initiative, the department of social and health services shall undertake the following activities related specifically to children's mental health services:

     (1) The development of recommended revisions to the access to care standards for children. The recommended revisions shall reflect the policies and principles set out in RCW 71.36.005, 71.36.010, and 71.36.025, and recognize that early identification, intervention and prevention services, and brief intervention services may be provided outside of the regional support network system. Revised access to care standards shall assess a child's need for mental health services based upon the child's diagnosis and its negative impact upon his or her persistent impaired functioning in family, school, or the community, and should not solely condition the receipt of services upon a determination that a child is engaged in high risk behavior or is in imminent need of hospitalization or out-of-home placement. Assessment and diagnosis for children under five years of age shall be determined using a nationally accepted assessment tool designed specifically for children of that age. The recommendations shall also address whether amendments to RCW *71.24.025 (26) and (27) and 71.24.035(5) are necessary to implement revised access to care standards;

     (2) Development of a revised children's mental health benefit package. The department shall ensure that services included in the children's mental health benefit package reflect the policies and principles included in RCW 71.36.005 and 71.36.025, to the extent allowable under medicaid, Title XIX of the federal social security act. Strong consideration shall be given to developmentally appropriate evidence-based and research-based practices, family-based interventions, the use of natural and peer supports, and community support services. This effort shall include a review of other states' efforts to fund family-centered children's mental health services through their medicaid programs;

     (3) Consistent with the timeline developed for the system transformation initiative, recommendations for revisions to the children's access to care standards and the children's mental health services benefits package shall be presented to the legislature by January 1, 2009.

[2007 c 359 § 4.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: RCW 71.24.025 was amended by 2007 c 414 § 1, changing subsections (26) and (27) to subsections (27) and (28).

     Captions not law -- 2007 c 359: See note following RCW 71.36.005.