Health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, must make next-day appointments available to enrollees experiencing urgent, symptomatic behavioral health conditions to receive covered behavioral health services. The appointment may be with a licensed provider other than a licensed behavioral health professional, as long as that provider is acting within their scope of practice, and may be provided through telemedicine consistent with RCW 48.43.735. Need for urgent symptomatic care is associated with the presentation of behavioral health signs or symptoms that require immediate attention, but are not emergent.

Findings—Intent—2021 c 302: See note following RCW 71.24.890.