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Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) Behavioral Health Services Only (BHSO)

Medicaid

Our plan offers a range of behavioral health benefits. These include mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. View the benefits below to see all that it offers. It's for people who meet income and eligibility requirements for Apple Health (Medicaid) and receive physical health services some other way.

To find out if you qualify, visit wahealthplanfinder.org or call 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633) TTY/TTD 1-855-627-9604.

We can also assist with interpreter services, including American Sign Language. To ask for help, please call 1-877-542-8997, TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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  • Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) Behavioral Health Services Only (BHSO) Steps to enroll

Find providers and coverage for this plan.

Find a behavioral health provider

Search for behavioral health providers and resources.

Benefits & features

Behavioral health services include mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. These services can help you with personal problems that may affect you and your family such as stress, depression, anxiety, problem gambling, or using drugs or alcohol. There is no cost for Apple Health (Medicaid) members for covered behavioral health services. You must go to a behavioral health provider in UnitedHealthcare Community Plan’s network. Some services require pre-approval.

How to access behavioral health services
You have the right to choose a qualified behavioral health services provider. You can find a list of in-network behavioral health providers here. You do not need a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to see behavioral health specialists in your plan or to access substance use disorder treatment services. There are some treatments and services that need pre-approval before you can get them.

Your PCP and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan can also help coordinate your behavioral health care. You can find the name of your PCP on the back of your UnitedHealthcare Community Plan member ID card. If you need help finding a behavioral health provider or getting the behavioral health care you need, please call Member Services at 1-877-542-8997, TTY 711, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (PT).


Mental health services may include:
• Intake evaluation, assessment, and screening
• Peer support
• Mental health treatment interventions such as:
   - Individual, family and group therapy
   - Outpatient, residential and inpatient care
   - Intensive and brief treatment models
• Crisis Services
• Medication management and monitoring
• Care coordination and community integration
• Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment services may include:
• Assessment
• Brief intervention and referral to treatment
• Individual, family, and group therapy
• Outpatient, residential and inpatient
• Opiate substitution treatment services
• Case management
• Peer support
• Crisis services
• Withdrawal management (detoxification)

You may be able to get extra help from Washington State, like care coordination, family support services, or recovery support services. These are on top of your Apple Health (Medicaid) benefits. But funds are limited, so they might not always be available if money runs out.

Organizations offering support or legal help:

Behavioral Health Advocates
A Behavioral Health Advocate (formerly called Ombuds) is a person who provides free and confidential assistance with resolving concerns related to your behavioral health services. They can also help if you have a behavioral health grievance, appeal, or fair hearing. Behavioral Health Advocates are independent of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. They have also experienced behavioral health services themselves, or someone in their family has had behavioral health services.
You can find the phone number of the Behavioral Health Advocate in your county here. Or you can contact the Office of Behavioral Health Advocacy at 1-800-366-3103.

Northwest Justice Project (NJP)
NJP offers free legal help for essential needs such as housing, family safety, income security, health care, education, and more. They work to address structural and racial inequities to improve the long-term well-being of low-income individuals, families and communities across Washington State. Visit nwjustice.org/home for more information.

A mental health crisis is when someone’s behavior can put themselves or others in danger, especially if they do not get help right away, such as:

• Threatens to or talks about hurting or killing themselves and/or others
• Sees no reason for living
• Feels hopeless, trapped, like there is no way out
• Feels rage or uncontrolled anger or engages in reckless behaviors
• Feels anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep
• Increases alcohol or drug use
• Withdraws from friends and family
• Encounters dramatic mood changes

Life-threatening emergency: Call 911

WA Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Call, text or chat: Dial 988
TTY: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 and then 988
American Sign Language (ASL): Visit 988lifeline.org, select the “For Deaf & Hard of Hearing” link, then choose “ASL Now”
Visit: wa988.org

Crisis Services: Call the Behavioral Health - Administrative Services Organization (BH-ASO). Check the list of BH-ASO phone numbers for each county

Substance Use Disorder Helpline: Available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Call: 1-855-780-5955
Visit:liveandworkwell.com/recovery

Washington Recovery Helpline: Crisis intervention and referral line for those struggling with mental health, substance abuse, and problem gambling. Available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Call or text: 866-789-1511 (TTY 206-461-3219)
Visit:warecoveryhelpline.org

Teen Link: Teens can connect with teens during specific hours.
Call: 866-833-6546
Visit: teenlink.org

Teen Health Hub: A list of carefully selected online health information and resources on important health topics for teens and young adults
Visit: doh.wa.gov/teenhealthhub

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Offers resources and support groups in Washington.
Visit: namiwa.org

Go to Live and Work Well to get support and information for stress, mental health, substance use and more.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA services assist individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities in improving their communication, social and behavioral skills. To access ABA services and care coordination, call our ABA Support Line at 1-866-456-5376.

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)
Care coordination for Transition Age Youth and Young Adults, ages 15 - 25, who are transitioning from children’s services to adult services. This includes referrals to behavioral health and medical providers, as well as assistance with education, employment support, housing, and parenting. For TAY services, request care coordination by calling Member Services at 1-877-542-8997, TTY 711, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (PT).

Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe)
WISe is an approach to helping young adults up to age 20 with intensive mental health care needs. The program takes a team approach designed to support young adults and families in meeting their individualized goals. You can find more information on the Washington Health Care Authority WISe webpage.

If English is not your preferred language or you are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing, we can help. We will provide language assistance at no cost to you.

If you need information in a language other than English, including sign language, call Member Services at 1-877-542-8997, TTY 711. We can also help you find a provider who speaks your language.

View Advance Directives in English | Español

Choice of Behavioral Health Provider

Your Behavioral Health Provider

You can get a wide range of treatments and services for mental health and substance use disorder. You do not need a referral from your Primary Care Provider (PCP) to see a network behavioral health provider or to access substance use disorder treatment services.
Go to 'Find a Behavioral health provider' to see if your doctor is in our network. If you don’t have a doctor or if your doctor is not in our network, we can help you find a new one close to you.

Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)

This is the person you should see for most of your care. These services are not covered by this plan. You receive access to these services some other way. Talk to your PCP about any behavioral health concerns you may have. Your PCP can help you decide the right options for you.

NurseLine

When you have questions about your health care, you can call a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-877-543-3409 (TTY 711).

Our nurses will:

• Listen to symptoms.
• Help with self-care.
• Advise you about getting the type of care you need.
• Help you know when to go to the emergency room or urgent care clinic.

Transportation

Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) pays for transportation services to and from needed non-emergency health care appointments.

Call the transportation provider (broker) in your area to learn about services and limitations. Your regional broker will arrange the most appropriate, least costly transportation for you. A list of brokers can be found athca.wa.gov/transportation-help.
When possible, contact the transportation broker at least 7-14 days before your health care appointment.

Member resources

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Apple Health (Medicaid) Behavioral Health Services Only (BHSO)


Disclaimer information

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Looking for the federal government’s Medicaid website? Look here at Medicaid.gov.

UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete plans

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

Premium disclaimer

Dual Special Needs plans have a $0 premium for members with Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy).

Benefit disclaimer

Benefits, features, and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply.

Nurse Hotline disclaimer

This service should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The information provided through this service is for informational purposes only. The nurses cannot diagnose problems or recommend treatment and are not a substitute for your provider's care. Your health information is kept confidential in accordance with the law. The service is not an insurance program and may be discontinued at any time. Nurse Hotline not for use in emergencies, for informational purposes only. Access to this service is subject to terms of use.

Star ratings disclaimer

Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. The 5-Star rating applies to plan year 2026.

Formularies

The formulary, pharmacy network and provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.

Important provider information

The choice is yours

We will provide you with information to help you make informed choices, such as physicians' and health care professionals' credentials. This information, however, is not an endorsement of a particular physician or health care professional's suitability for your needs.

The providers available through this application may not necessarily reflect the full extent of UnitedHealthcare's network of contracted providers. There may be providers or certain specialties that are not included in this application that are part of our network. If you don't find the provider you are searching for, you may contact the provider directly to verify participation status with UnitedHealthcare's network, or contact Customer Care at the toll-free number shown on your UnitedHealthcare ID card. We also recommend that, prior to seeing any physician, including any specialists, you call the physician's office to verify their participation status and availability.

Some network providers may have been added or removed from our network after this directory was updated. We do not guarantee that each provider is still accepting new members.

Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat UnitedHealthcare plan members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost- sharing that applies to out-of-network services.

American Disabilities Act notice

In accordance with the requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("ADA"), UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company provides full and equal access to covered services and does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Referrals

Network providers help you and your covered family members get the care needed. Access to specialists may be coordinated by your primary care physician.

Paper directory requests

Paper copies of the network provider directory are available at no cost to members by calling the customer service number on the back of your ID card. Non-members may download and print search results from the online directory.

Declaration of disaster or emergency

If you’re affected by a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or a governor, or an announcement of a public health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, there is certain additional support available to you.

  • Part A, Part B, and supplemental Part C plan benefits are to be provided at specified non-contracted facilities (note that Part A and Part B benefits must be obtained at Medicare certified facilities);
  • Where applicable, requirements for gatekeeper referrals are waived in full;
  • Plan-approved out-of-network cost-sharing to network cost-sharing amounts are temporarily reduced; and
  • The 30-day notification requirement to members is waived, as long as all the changes (such as reduction of cost-sharing and waiving authorization) benefit the member.

If CMS hasn’t provided an end date for the disaster or emergency, plans will resume normal operation 30 days after the initial declaration.