Bill > SB5128

This bill aims to clarify and improve medical services for individuals in juvenile detention facilities by making several key changes to existing state laws. It builds upon previous legislation from 2021 that sought to ensure continuity of Medicaid coverage for incarcerated youth. The bill requires the Health Care Authority (HCA) to suspend rather than terminate medical assistance benefits for individuals in detention facilities, and allows individuals to apply for medical assistance during their confinement, regardless of their known release date. Specifically, during the first 29 days of confinement, a person's Medicaid enrollment status cannot be affected, and after 29 days, their medical assistance can be suspended or kept in a suspense status. The bill also mandates that the HCA collaborate with various agencies and organizations to establish procedures for quickly reinstating medical assistance upon release, including mechanisms for receiving applications, reviewing eligibility, and providing medical service identity cards. Additionally, the bill requires the HCA to submit a report by December 1, 2025, detailing its efforts to implement federal requirements for screening, diagnostic, and case management services for juveniles before and after their release from detention facilities. The legislation is set to expire on July 1, 2026, and includes a provision ensuring that if any part of the act conflicts with federal funding requirements, only that specific part will be considered inoperative.

Health and Social Services, Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5128&Year=2025&Initiative=false