Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 11-09-067.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department proposes to adopt a new chapter 388-877 WAC to establish administrative standards, and support the specific requirements for the licensing and certification of behavioral health agencies that provide mental health, chemical dependency, and/or problem and pathological gambling treatment services. This rule supports the program-specific rules the department is proposing, at the same time, for a new chapter 388-877A WAC for mental health, chapter 388-877B WAC for chemical dependency, and chapter 388-877C WAC for problem and pathological gambling.

SECTIONS IN NEW CHAPTER 388-877 WAC:

     Section One -- Behavioral health services -- Purpose and scope.

     WAC 388-877-0100 Behavioral health services -- Purpose and scope.

     Section Two -- Behavioral health services -- Definitions.

     WAC 388-877-0200 Behavioral health services -- Definitions.

     Section Three -- Behavioral health services -- Agency licensure and certification.

     WAC 388-877-0300 Agency licensure -- General information, 388-877-0305 Agency licensure -- Application, 388-877-0310 Agency licensure -- Deeming, 388-877-0315 Agency licensure -- Renewals, 388-877-0320 Agency licensure -- On-site reviews and plans of correction, 388-877-0325 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Approvals and provisional approvals, 388-877-0330 Agency licensure -- Effective dates, 388-877-0335 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Denials, suspensions, restrictions, revocations, and penalties, 388-877-0340 Agency licensure -- Adding a branch site, 388-877-0345 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Adding a new service, 388-877-0350 Agency licensure -- Change in ownership, 388-877-0355 Agency licensure -- Change in location, 388-877-0360 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Facility remodel, 388-877-0365 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Fee requirements, and 388-877-0370 Agency licensure and program-specific certification -- Appealing a department decision.

     Section Four -- Behavioral health services -- Agency administration.

     WAC 388-877-0400 Agency administration -- Governing body requirements, 388-877-0410 Agency administration -- Administrator key responsibilities, 388-877-0420 Agency administration -- Policies and procedures, and 388-877-0430 Agency administration -- Treatment facility requirements.

     Section Five -- Behavioral health services -- Personnel.

     WAC 388-877-0500 Personnel -- Agency policies and procedures, 388-877-0510 Personnel -- Agency record requirements, 388-877-0520 Personnel -- Agency requirements for supervision of trainees and interns, and 388-877-0530 Personnel -- Agency requirements for volunteers and student practicum.

     Section Six -- Behavioral health services -- Clinical.

     WAC 388-877-0600 Clinical -- Individual rights, 388-877-0610 Clinical -- Initial assessment, 388-877-0620 Clinical -- Individual service plan, 388-877-0630 Clinical -- Individual clinical record system, 388-877-0640 Clinical -- Record content, and 388-877-0650 Clinical -- Access to clinical records.

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html), on February 26, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than February 27, 2013.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m. on February 26, 2013.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by January 15, 2013, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at jennisha.johnson@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The new rules in chapter 388-877 WAC allow for a single set of agency administrative, personnel, and clinical policies and procedures that address specific treatment populations and levels of care. The rules will provide standardization to all behavioral health services programs, provide an agency with a streamlined certification and/or licensure process for mental health, chemical dependency, and/or problem and pathological gambling treatment programs, and eliminate the need for multiple audits when the agency provides more than one behavioral health service.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The rules support the following: Clinical staff competency, individual rights, an initial assessment, a treatment service plan and treatment service plan review, clinical documentation, a discharge plan, a continuing care plan, patient records, a complaint procedure, and quality management. In addition, the rules merge and place into one section definitions that apply to the general behavioral health services administrative rules and the program-specific rules for mental health, chemical dependency, and problem and pathological gambling services.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 70.02, 70.96A, 71.05, 71.24, 71.34, 74.50 RCW; RCW 74.08.090, 43.20A.890; 42 C.F.R. Part 8.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 70.02, 70.96A, 71.05, 71.24, 71.34, 74.50 RCW; RCW 74.08.090, 43.20A.890; 42 C.F.R. Part 8.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Kathy Sayre, P.O. Box 45330, Olympia, WA 98504-5330, (360) 725-1342; Implementation and Enforcement: Pete Marburger, P.O. Box 45330, Olympia, WA 98504-5330, (360) 725-1513.

     A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.

     A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Kathy Sayre, P.O. Box 45330, Olympia, WA 98504-5330, phone (360) 725-1342, fax (360) 725-2280, e-mail kathy.sayre@dshs.wa.gov.

     A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Kathy Sayre, P.O. Box 45330, Olympia, WA 98504-5330, phone (360) 725-1342, fax (360) 725-2280, e-mail kathy.sayre@dshs.wa.gov.

December 20, 2012

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     Reviser's note: The material contained in this filing exceeded the page-count limitations of WAC 1-21-040 for appearance in this issue of the Register. It will appear in the 13-03 issue of the Register.