SEATTLE, WA – Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and officials with the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest in Seattle held a press conference on Friday to talk about the future of the State’s mental healthcare system. The facility will become the home of the first behavioral health teaching hospital in the history of the U.S., with a tentative opening date of June 2024. The facility is the result of a bill passed by the Washington State Legislature in April 2021 to improve access to mental healthcare.
Inslee says the next step is to build a mental healthcare system which befits this century.
Inslee says they began the process of improving mental healthcare five years ago. While there has been progress, he says it hasn’t been enough.
Inslee says the fact is, demand for mental healthcare continues to grow. Since 2018, demand for competency restoration services has increased 60%.
State lawmakers will be asked to provide several additional means of improving mental healthcare, including better services for children. Inslee says several initiatives are underway.
Inslee says the proposed improvements will be made through the State’s Medicaid plan.
