Overview

In 2022, NAMI Washington (our state affiliate) will lead advocacy efforts to improve access to timely and effective behavioral health treatment and supports in the face of racial injustices, an economic downturn, and a global pandemic. NAMI WA will also analyze, position, and advocate as appropriate, introduced legislation that falls within scope of our key elements to a comprehensive behavioral health system document.

The information on this page comes from NAMI Washington.

Contacts:

• Melanie Smith, Lobbyist (smith.melaniej@gmail.com)

Successful 2022 Session 

​Legislative Priority Wins in 2022

• HB 1735 - Ensure law enforcement can respond to behavioral health crisis calls.
  
• HB1688 - Expands the definition of emergency services to include post

stabilization services and emergency services provided by behavioral health
emergency service providers.
• HB1773 - Fixes the Assisted Outpatient Treatment law and making it easier for
courts to use and expand who can petition for the court order.
• HB1890 - Creates a strategic plan advisory group under the children and youth
behavioral health work group for the purpose of developing a behavioral health
strategic plan for children, youth transitioning to adulthood, and their caregivers.
2022 Budget Wins
1. 7% Medicaid rate increase for behavioral health rates
2. $100 million for BH workforce stabilization.
3. $3.7 million for HIV medications
4. $4.7 million for Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Support Decriminalization of Mental Health and Police Accountability

• $300,000 is needed to implement the Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission the intersection of the criminal justice and behavioral health crisis system; work critical to decriminalizing behavioral health.
• NAMI Washington supports leaders on police accountability and communities of color disproportionately impacted by policing. These systems impact and intersect with behavioral health.

Support Implementation of the 998 Number

• NAMI Washington supports efforts to implement the new federal legislation that will establish the 988 behavioral health crisis response number and system as crisis response alternative to 911.

Additional Priorities

• Access to culturally responsive services; Mental Health Advanced Directives (MHAD) implementation.
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) expansion;
• Health insurance parity; increased access to telehealth; and increased access to broadband

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