County commissioner and lawmakers highlight bills to expand local behavioral‑health services

Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant and state legislators discussed steps to expand behavioral‑health services and local authority to pay for those services.

Grant described work on “house bill 18 13” that she said would allow the county more flexibility in how it pays bills to expand mental‑health and substance‑use disorder treatment locally. Grant said one goal is to create a facility modeled on Saint Peter's (a local example officials cited) but focused solely on mental‑health and substance‑use disorder treatment.

Grant said the bills and related budget items would enable the county to provide more services in communities rather than rely on distant providers. She emphasized that multiple pieces must align for such a center and that county leaders are continuing planning and testimony in support of the measures.

State Representative Matt Marshall also described related activity in the Legislature: he said he sponsored a bill to align state rules for certified medical assistants so providers can delegate certain refills and administrative work, which lawmakers say could free clinicians to provide more direct behavioral‑health care time. Marshall also said he is working on proposals related to property‑tax relief for disabled veterans, and that he plans further mental‑health legislation in the coming session.