(Effective until May 1, 2023)

PDFWAC 246-341-1050

General requirements for mental health and substance use disorder inpatient and residential services.

(1) An agency providing substance use disorder services under WAC 246-341-1100 through 246-341-1114 or mental health services under WAC 246-341-1118 through 246-341-1158:
(a) Must be a facility licensed by the department as:
(i) A hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW;
(ii) A private psychiatric and alcoholism hospital licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW;
(iii) A private alcohol and substance use disorder hospital licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW; or
(iv) A residential treatment facility licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW;
(b) If an agency is providing seclusion and restraint the agency must ensure that use of seclusion and restraint is documented and is used only to the extent necessary to ensure the safety of patients and others, and in accordance with WAC 246-320-226, 246-322-180, 246-324-200, or 246-337-110, as determined by the facility license type;
(c) Must ensure access to necessary medical treatment, including emergency life-sustaining treatment and medication;
(d) Must review the individual's crisis or recovery plan, if applicable and available;
(e) Must determine the individual's risk of harm to self, others, or property;
(f) Must coordinate with the individual's current treatment provider, if applicable, to assure continuity of care during admission and upon discharge;
(g) Must develop and provide to the individual a discharge summary that must include:
(i) A continuing care recommendation; and
(ii) Scheduled follow-up appointments, including the time and date of the appointment(s), when possible;
(h) If providing services to adults and minors, an agency must:
(i) Ensure that a minor who is at least age thirteen but not yet age eighteen is served with adults only if the minor's clinical record contains:
(A) Documentation that justifies such placement; and
(B) A professional judgment that placement in an inpatient facility that serves adults will not harm the minor;
(ii) Ensure the following for individuals who share a room:
(A) An individual fifteen years of age or younger must not room with an individual eighteen years of age or older;
(B) Anyone under thirteen years of age must be evaluated for clinical appropriateness before being placed in a room with an individual thirteen to sixteen years of age; and
(C) An individual sixteen or seventeen years of age must be evaluated for clinical appropriateness before being placed in a room with an individual eighteen years of age or older.
(2) An agency providing residential or inpatient mental health or substance use disorder services to youth must follow these additional requirements:
(a) Allow communication between the youth and the youth's parent or if applicable, a legal guardian, and facilitate the communication when clinically appropriate.
(b) Notify the parent or legal guardian within two hours of any significant decrease in the behavioral or physical health status of the youth and document all notification and attempts of notification in the clinical record.
(c) Discharge the youth to the care of the youth's parent or if applicable, legal guardian. For an unplanned discharge and when the parent or legal guardian is not available, the agency must contact the state child protective services.
(d) Ensure a staff member who demonstrates knowledge of adolescent development and substance use disorders is available at the agency or available by phone.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 71.24.037, 71.05.560, 71.34.380, 18.205.160, 71.24.037 and chapters 71.05, 71.24, and 71.34 RCW. WSR 21-12-042, § 246-341-1050, filed 5/25/21, effective 7/1/21.]