The Washington State Health Care Authority's (HCA) initiatives to improve payment and access to perinatal substance use services.
- Medicaid has created a billing code for hospitals to use when birth parent/mother has been medically discharged after giving birth, but their baby is being monitored or treated for withdrawal. The payment is an administrative day rate and supports the hospital to provide a bed, 3 meals a day, and prescribed medications. This makes it easier for parents to be centered as the most important element of their baby's care. Parents should be encouraged to hold and bond with their baby, chest/breastfeed or bottle feed skin-to-skin, swaddle, and comfort their baby.
- Washington is the first state to create this Medicaid payment. For questions about billing, please call 1-800-562-3022 (choose provider services) or submit questions online at P1 ContactUs! (wa.gov)
- The billing information is in HCA's hospital inpatient billing guide and starts on page 90.
- Medicaid has expanded postpartum coverage (including dental and vision care) through Apple Health, which lasts for 365 days after the end of a pregnancy, regardless of the pregnancy outcome. All services covered by Medicaid are available during this time.
- Families impacted by substance use may also need mental health services for their young children. The HCA has developed resources for Apple Health (Medicaid) providers and billers on how to provide infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) services. Learn more on their IECMH webpage.
