Bill > HB2385

This bill extends the deadline for the Washington State Health Care Authority to submit necessary state plan amendments or waiver requests to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Medicaid Access Program from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2030. The Medicaid Access Program aims to increase reimbursement rates for various professional medical services, including anesthesia, diagnostics, and behavioral health, to at least Medicare rates, with adjustments based on the Medicare Economic Index annually thereafter. The bill also updates the expiration date for this act, tying it to federal approval of the program, and requires the authority to study and report on the impact of these rate increases on Medicaid access for enrollees, using metrics such as provider utilization and patient access surveys.