For Washington residents with mental health and substance abuse issues, it can be a challenge to get all of their needs met by the health care system.
That is why Gov. Jay Inslee has announced the formation of a subcabinet to bring together state agencies to work on multiple system reforms, including physical and behavioral health integration, mental health and our state response to the opioid crisis.
The subcabinet will include leaders of the state Health Care Authority, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Department of Health. Other agencies will be invited as needed to coordinate on health-related issues such as housing (Department of Commerce), criminal justice (Department of Corrections), and health insurance (Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Health Benefit Exchange).
“The mental health and opioid crises are interrelated and complex. It is crucial that we use all the ingenuity we have to step up to work harder and smarter and do everything we can to help Washingtonians get the care they need,” Inslee said. “That is why I am pulling together state agencies to accelerate our efforts."
Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page.