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PDFWAC 246-341-1131

Involuntary behavioral health residential and inpatient servicesCertification standards.

(1) Agencies certified for involuntary behavioral health residential and inpatient services provide behavioral health intervention, assessment and treatment services in a residential treatment facility or hospitals to individuals subject to a civil commitment or court-order under chapter 71.05 or 71.34 RCW; or to individuals who have been court ordered to receive treatment at a certified agency pursuant to chapter 10.77 RCW. Involuntary residential and inpatient services under this certification include the following services:
(a) In accordance with the service standards in WAC 246-341-1133:
(i) Adult involuntary evaluation and treatment; and
(ii) Youth involuntary evaluation and treatment;
(b) In accordance with the service standards in WAC 246-341-1135:
(i) Adult secure withdrawal management; and
(ii) Youth secure withdrawal management;
(c) Court ordered treatment at a certified agency pursuant to chapter 10.77 RCW.
(2) An agency providing involuntary behavioral health services must:
(a) Follow the applicable statutory requirements in chapter 10.77, 71.05, or 71.34 RCW;
(b) Ensure that services are provided in a secure environment. "Secure" means having:
(i) All doors and windows leading to the outside locked at all times;
(ii) Visual monitoring, in a method appropriate to the individual;
(iii) A space to separate persons who are violent or may become violent from others when necessary to maintain safety of the individual and others;
(iv) The means to contact law enforcement immediately in the event of an elopement from the facility; and
(v) Adequate numbers of staff present at all times that are trained in facility security measures;
(c) Provide services, including admissions, seven days a week, 24 hours a day;
(d) Ensure that a mental health professional, substance use disorder professional, if appropriate, and physician, physician assistant, or psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for consultation and communication with the staff that provide direct care of individuals.
(3) An agency providing services under chapter 71.05 or 71.34 RCW must:
(a) Ensure at least daily contact between each involuntarily admitted individual and a mental health professional, substance use disorder professional, or person with a co-occurring disorder specialist enhancement as appropriate, for the purpose of evaluation as to:
(i) The need for further treatment;
(ii) Whether there is a change in involuntary status; or
(iii) Possible discharge;
(b) For an individual who has been delivered to the facility by a peace officer for evaluation, the individual service record must contain:
(i) A statement of the circumstances under which the individual was brought to the unit;
(ii) The admission date and time;
(iii) Determination of whether to refer to a designated crisis responder (DCR) to initiate civil commitment proceedings;
(iv) If evaluated by a DCR, documentation that the evaluation was performed within the required time period, the results of the evaluation, and the disposition of the person;
(c) Upon discharge of the individual the agency shall provide notification to the DCR office responsible for the initial commitment, which may be a federally recognized Indian tribe or other Indian health care provider if the DCR is appointed by the health care authority, and the DCR office that serves the county in which the individual is expected to reside.
(4) Agencies certified for involuntary behavioral health residential and inpatient services must also follow the certification standards for residential and inpatient behavioral health services in WAC 246-341-1105.
(5) An agency certified for involuntary behavioral health residential and inpatient services may choose to provide services to individual on a less restrictive alternative order in accordance with the requirements in WAC 246-341-0805.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 71.24.037, 71.05.560, 71.34.380, 18.205.160, 43.70.080(5), 41.05.750, 43.70.250, 74.09.520, and chapters 71.05, 71.12, 71.24, and 71.34 RCW. WSR 22-24-091, § 246-341-1131, filed 12/6/22, effective 5/1/23.]