Governor Inslee signs Brennen's Law

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Brennen's Law.

It's named for a young man who didn't get the help he needed to in time to prevent his suicide.

“You know, it was the most beautiful thing to hear was when he said, “Brennen's law”, his mother, Rachel Smith, said. “Alas, he's not here, and he's not here because of a system that failed him and because of consumer protections that did not exist that I believe this in some small way will help change. We will have truth in advertising. We will have accountability.”

As she told KIRO 7's Jesse Jones two years ago, SMith sought help from her Kaiser Permanente medical plan when her son confessed his depression and cocaine addiction.

She selected the plan because it made promises of timely help.

But Brennen was required to wait 29 days for a mental health appointment. He killed himself on day 24.

Before signing, Inslee described the new law, saying, “Among several provisions it requires a health carrier to post on its website whether it classifies these treatments as primary or specialty care and the number of days within which an enrollee must have access to these covered services under certain conditions.”

Rachel Smith sees today as a beginning. Next, she plans to push for the same consumer protection on a national level.

“I don't have a son anymore, but his energy lives here and will hopefully protect other families.”

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