The legislature finds that in 2017 one thousand two hundred ninety-two Washingtonians died by suicide. The legislature finds that many individuals who attempt suicide or die by suicide have an undiagnosed mental health condition. The legislature recognizes that a person's unassessed mental health or anxiety level can lead to severe medical emergencies or even death. The legislature further recognizes that health care professionals are in a unique position to notice depression, anxiety, and suicide warning signs in their patients and intervene early.
Therefore, the legislature intends to increase screening for anxiety to allow for possible early intervention.
Beginning January 1, 2020, a patient's anxiety level must be assessed by a health care provider upon the patient's intake at a hospital, urgent care center, or primary care clinic.
(1) Patients that have been admitted to the hospital must be assessed at regular intervals as necessary based on the patient's condition and at the patient's discharge from the hospital.
(2) The health care provider must use either the generalized anxiety disorder 2-item or generalized anxiety disorder 7-item assessment tool to assess the patient's anxiety.