WA HB1427

Establishes certification requirements for peer support specialists, including approximately 80 hours of education, oral and written examinations, and 1,000 hours of supervised experience as a trainee under chapter 18.420 RCW, effective July 1, 2025

Caps certification fees at $100 for certified peer support specialists through July 1, 2030, and eliminates fees entirely for peer support specialist trainees

Requires the Health Care Authority to contract with external entities by December 31, 2025 to expand peer support services access, including technical assistance for integrating peer specialists into primary care, urgent care, and hospital settings

Mandates health carriers provide network access to certified peer support specialists by July 1, 2026, and requires managed care organizations to demonstrate peer services accessibility in Medicaid procurement applications

Creates specialized 40-hour training for peer crisis responders working with 988 behavioral health crisis lines and develops three separate training courses for peer support services to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking victims