Legislative Committee Update: You Already Pay for HEAL-WA — Here’s How to Use It
- Ashley Haynes-Gibson, MA, LMFTA -- Legislative Committee Co-Chair
- Sep 5
- 2 min read
Many of our members may not realize that as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and LMFT Associates (LMFTAs), you already pay a $16 annual fee to support and access the University of Washington’s Health Sciences Library (HEAL-WA). This fee is built directly into your Department of Health (DOH) licensure and renewal costs.
Why This Matters
HEAL-WA is Washington’s digital health sciences library, created to give providers across the state — especially those outside of academic institutions — access to peer-reviewed journals, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based resources. These tools are invaluable for:
Staying current with research in mental health and systemic therapy
Supporting treatment planning with evidence-based resources
Accessing continuing education and professional development materials
In short: you are already helping fund this resource, so make sure you’re taking advantage of it!
How to Access HEAL-WA
Go to www.heal-wa.org
Click “Getting Started” (direct link here)
Set up your user ID and password (you’ll need your WA DOH credential number)
Once registered, log in any time to explore licensed resources (indicated with a lock icon)
What’s New
The Department of Health recently filed a rulemaking notice (CR-105 WSR 25-17-067) adding Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associates (LMHC-As) to HEAL-WA. They will now begin paying the same $16 fee that LMFTs, LMFTAs, and other behavioral health professions have long contributed.
Bottom Line
For LMFTs and LMFTAs, nothing is changing — you’ve always supported HEAL-WA. What’s important is making sure you are using this resource, since it’s one of the best evidence-based libraries available to clinicians in Washington.
Explore HEAL-WA here: heal-wa.org
Learn more about the recent rulemaking: DOH CR-105 Notice (PDF)
Takeaway for Members: You’ve already paid for HEAL-WA — log in today and put it to use in your clinical practice.
If you have any questions or concerns about this update or how HEAL-WA access applies to you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the WAMFT Legislative Committee. We are here to support you and ensure you have the information and resources you need.
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