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Thursday, Jan 29, 2026
Outside the box.
Washington Legislature Advances Bill to Secure Federal Funding for Spokane’s Maddie’s Place
Proposed legislation aims to establish sustainable federal Medicaid support for the pioneering infant and family addiction recovery centre
Lawmakers in the Washington State Senate have advanced a bill that could pave the way for permanent federal funding for Maddie’s Place, a pioneering pediatric recovery centre in Spokane serving infants born to mothers with substance use disorders and their families.
Senate Bill 6094, known as the “Maddie’s Place Bill,” was heard this week by the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee and is backed by bipartisan sponsors who say it will strengthen support for vulnerable infants across the state and provide a model for national policy.
Maddie’s Place, which opened in 2022, offers specialised care for infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome, along with wrap-around recovery support for their parents.
The centre’s leadership and supporters have emphasised that the facility’s integrated approach improves outcomes for both infants and their families while reducing long-term health costs.
A Washington State University study found that infants at Maddie’s Place had an average stay of nearly eight weeks, and that parents who completed the programme were substantially more likely to remain substance-free and retain custody of their children.
The legislation would direct the state Department of Health Care Authority to pursue a state plan amendment with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2027, creating a pathway for Medicaid reimbursement of services at Maddie’s Place and similar facilities.
Interim bridge funding would come from the Washington opioid abatement settlement fund until the federal plan takes effect or by January 1, 2029. It also calls for the development of a bundled funding model for comprehensive maternal and child health services provided by residential pediatric recovery centres.
Senator Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) and his bipartisan colleagues argue the bill would not only ensure stable financing for Maddie’s Place but also help other communities across Washington establish similar programmes.
Testimonies from former parents and health officials highlighted the transformative impact of the facility’s family-centred model on recovery and bonding.
While some state officials have raised questions about federal approval prospects, proponents are optimistic that the legislation will strengthen the case for expanding access to care for substance-exposed infants.
Senate Bill 6094, known as the “Maddie’s Place Bill,” was heard this week by the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee and is backed by bipartisan sponsors who say it will strengthen support for vulnerable infants across the state and provide a model for national policy.
Maddie’s Place, which opened in 2022, offers specialised care for infants experiencing neonatal abstinence syndrome, along with wrap-around recovery support for their parents.
The centre’s leadership and supporters have emphasised that the facility’s integrated approach improves outcomes for both infants and their families while reducing long-term health costs.
A Washington State University study found that infants at Maddie’s Place had an average stay of nearly eight weeks, and that parents who completed the programme were substantially more likely to remain substance-free and retain custody of their children.
The legislation would direct the state Department of Health Care Authority to pursue a state plan amendment with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by July 1, 2027, creating a pathway for Medicaid reimbursement of services at Maddie’s Place and similar facilities.
Interim bridge funding would come from the Washington opioid abatement settlement fund until the federal plan takes effect or by January 1, 2029. It also calls for the development of a bundled funding model for comprehensive maternal and child health services provided by residential pediatric recovery centres.
Senator Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) and his bipartisan colleagues argue the bill would not only ensure stable financing for Maddie’s Place but also help other communities across Washington establish similar programmes.
Testimonies from former parents and health officials highlighted the transformative impact of the facility’s family-centred model on recovery and bonding.
While some state officials have raised questions about federal approval prospects, proponents are optimistic that the legislation will strengthen the case for expanding access to care for substance-exposed infants.
