MedicaidDocumentationHigh impact
Community Behavioral Health Support Services Billing Guide updates effective 9/1/2026
Washington Apple Health·WA · Psychiatry, General Practice·Billing Guide
Effective date
Sep 1, 2026
We identified it
Sep 1, 2026
Summary
Washington State HCA updated the Community Behavioral Health Support Services (CBHS) Billing Guide effective September 1, 2026, with revisions to eligibility criteria, risk assessment requirements, supportive supervision billing taxonomy, evaluation/re-evaluation processes, and exclusion rules. Billing teams must review and implement these changes to ensure compliant CBHS claims processing.
Action Required
By August 31, 2026: Billing team must obtain and review the updated CBHS Billing Guide from HCA's Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage. Identify all changes relevant to your practice's CBHS billing workflows. Update billing software, encounter forms, and provider documentation templates to reflect: (1) new eligibility verification requirements, (2) risk criteria assessments for CBHS authorization, (3) supportive supervision billing taxonomy and codes, (4) evaluation/re-evaluation documentation standards, and (5) supportive supervision exclusion rules. Notify all providers and clinical staff of changes, especially regarding documentation and billing requirements. Beginning September 1, 2026, all CBHS claims must comply with updated guide requirements. Non-compliant claims will be denied. Designate one team member to monitor HCA updates and maintain documentation of implementation completion.