Individuals enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board, and School Employees Benefits Board coverage - and those accessing behavioral health services - will not experience a disruption in care due to the federal government shutdown. In addition, health care providers will continue to be paid for the services they provide. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and share updates if anything changes.
The goal of the Mobile Crisis Response Endorsement Program is to enhance the statewide behavioral health crisis response system and ensure individuals experiencing a crisis have access to help easily in their regions. Endorsed teams meet standards for staffing, training, and transportation ensuring they maintain the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to the most acute calls received by 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The endorsement is a voluntary credential that a mobile rapid response crisis team (MRRCT) or community-based crisis teams (CBCT) may obtain to signify that it maintains the capacity to respond rapidly to anyone who is experiencing a significant behavioral health emergency requiring an urgent, in-person response.
New or existing MRRCT and CBCT who meet the state minimum standards to provide services under WAC 182-140 are eligible for an endorsement. Visit the Washington state legislature page for additional information.
This team provides professional, on-site, community-based interventions such as outreach, de-escalation, stabilization, resource connection, and follow-up support for people who are experiencing a behavioral health emergency. Learn more about MRRCT.
This team is part of an emergency medical services agency, a fire service agency, a public health agency, a medical facility, a nonprofit crisis response provider, or a city or county government entity, other than a law enforcement agency. These teams provide the on-site, community-based interventions of a mobile rapid response crisis team (MRRCT) for people who are experiencing behavioral health emergencies. Learn more about CBCT.
The goal of this grant is to fund the startup costs for mobile rapid response crisis teams (MRRCT) and community-based crisis teams (CBCT), seeking to meet the standards for endorsement as outlined in WAC 182-140. Grant funds are subject to availability and aim to enhance the statewide behavioral health crisis response system, ensuring individuals experiencing a crisis can access help quickly and easily in their regions.
By funding startup costs, the Health Care Authority (HCA) intends to improve the availability and quality of crisis intervention services, ultimately contributing to the overall safety and well-being of affected individuals. Additionally, the establishment of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline supports behavioral health interventions facilitating immediate access to assistance. Endorsed teams will serve as the primary responders in their regions, providing onsite intervention for behavioral health emergencies.
The grant application window has closed.
All endorsed mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams are eligible to receive endorsement payments in the form of an enhanced case rate while participating in the endorsement program. Learn more about participating in the program.
Engrossed Second Substitute House bill 1134 passed in 2023 in response to the need for more accessible and effective behavioral health emergency services within our state. The establishment of the 988 moves toward improving behavioral health intervention and ensuring access to immediate support over the phone. The bill seeks to improve in-person responses with the creation of the endorsement program. This program creates endorsed mobile rapid response crisis team (MRRCT) and establishes a new type of team, community-based crisis teams (CBCT).
Email: Demetria Hawkins
Mobile crisis outreach endorsement administrator
Phone: 360-725-1766