State House OKs bill to speed up in-take rehab process for those battling addiction

OLYMPIA, Wash. — State House of Representatives members on Friday approved legislation that will speed up the process to get help for people batting drug or alcohol addiction.

The measure, introduced and championed by Rep. Lauren Davis, who represents the 32nd District, was the result of the death of a woman named Chelsea.

"Chelsea’s last gift to this world was her organs," Davis said while talking about the measure on the floor of the House. "The gift of life to another.”

The entire House chamber was silent to hear the floor speech about the passing of Chelsea, who died from addiction.

“Four months ago today, Mr. Speaker, Chelsea left this world," Davis said. She was 31.”

Davis works with people who are battling drug and alcohol addictions. She came to the legislature to make a difference.

The bill she introduced would remove pre-authorization requirements for patients who need to get into detox or addiction treatment centers. She said the legislation will help save lives.

"I think it’s imperative," she said. "We are losing too many people’s children and too many children’s parents to a treatable brain disease because we make people wait when they’re in a moment of crisis, a moment desperation and urgency for care and a moment of willingness. We tell them to wait and we lose them and that’s unacceptable.”

House member Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, helped sponsor the bill.

He said a family of his has been directly touched by this challenge.

"Time is of the essence," he said. "When the person is ready and willing and needs to get into detox and treatment, to become encumbered with paper work and phone calls and waiting, you can’t tell somebody, ‘Hey, I’ll get back to you in a week.’"

The state Senate must still approve the measure.