Emotional and mental health are just as integral as physical health
Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) covers care for our members across the full continuum of behavioral health services.
Your responsibilities as a provider
CHPW acknowledges that providers have different resources to be able to deliver and support behavioral health services and the integration of whole person care in any setting. Examples of integration include:
- Providers sharing records between organizations
- Systematic screening of key conditions
- Regular coordination with other providers caring for the same patient
- Utilizing free psychiatric provider consultation lines
- Leveraging virtual care to ensure that a patient has all priority conditions addressed
- Offering services at a single location or in close proximity
At minimum, CHPW’s expectations are…
As a primary care provider, you are responsible for coordinating with your patient’s behavioral health provider. You do not need to submit a referral for your patient’s mental health or substance use treatment. If you need help finding an appropriate behavioral health provider for your patient, please call CHPW, or direct your patient to call us.
As a behavioral health provider, you are responsible for conducting an initial assessment for first-time patients to assess their level of need. You will coordinate with your patient’s primary care provider to create an appropriate care plan.
Providers can find additional information about how to provide and improve integrated care on the Clinical Practice Training and Resources page.
CHPW ensures access to care
Providers seeking mental health treatment for CHPW child and adult patients are no longer burdened with making multiple calls. CHPW Customer Service has a process to take on the responsibility of ensuring access to appropriate mental health providers for members.
- Simply instruct members to call CHPW Customer Service if they need help finding a mental health provider. Our representatives are available at 1-800-440-1561 (TTY Relay: Dial 711) Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Care management staff will identify available providers in the area and secure an appointment for your patient.
The CHPW process is designed to reduce challenges faced by members who are searching for mental health providers. Since primary care providers often help patients access specialty services, including behavioral health, we want to make sure you know how the new process works.
CHPW provides resources to our members through Community Programs that can further support members in their behavioral health treatment, including local resources for food, housing, job training, and more.
Summary of covered services
Psychiatric and substance use disorder
- Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Mental Health
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Evaluation & Treatment
- Inpatient Acute Substance Abuse Withdrawal Management (Detoxification)
- Psychological and neuropsychological testing
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- Crisis Stabilization in a residential setting
- Substance Use Disorder inpatient rehabilitation and residential treatment center
- Psychiatric inpatient residential treatment center
- Any facility-based service providing 24 hours/day and 7 days per week services
High-intensity outpatient programs
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
- Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)
- Day Treatment Program
Community support services
- SUD Recovery Services
- Psychosocial Case Management/other Case Management services
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation
- Peer Support
Lower Acuity Services
- Counseling
- Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM)
- Health and Behavior interventions
- Mental Health screening
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)/Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health
CHPW offers special coordination support for our members with behavioral health needs through Customer Service. This includes helping our members find a provider and schedule appointments. Case management is also covered for every CHPW member.
Children and adolescent services
- WISe
- First Episode Psychosis (FEP)
- Child Development Supports (Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families)
- Parents Helping Parents
Behavioral Health Resources
Evidence-Based Practices
- Evidence-Based and Research-Based Best Practices – Reporting Guidelines (HCA)
- Evidence-Based Practice Institute (EBPI)
Training
Find a list of trainings and resources to implement behavioral health best practices and integrated care on CHPW’s Clinical Practice Trainings and Resources page. These trainings are free or low cost and many offer continuing education credits.
Psychiatric Consultation
The University of Washington offers psychiatric consultation resources to support providers across the state who are caring for individuals with complex psychiatric conditions. Services include:
- Psychiatry Consultation Line (PCL) for Adults
- Perinatal Partnership Access Line (PAL) for Moms
- Partnership Access Line (PAL) for Children and Adolescents
- Weekly UW Psychiatry and Addictions Case Conference series (UW PACC)
Find details about these programs on the UW Psychiatric Provider Consultation website.
