Title 71 — Title 71 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
13 chapters · 468 sections in this title.
RCW 71.24.011 Short title.
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This chapter may be known and cited as the community behavioral health services act.[ 2019 c 325 s 1001; 2019 c 314 s 24; 1982 c 204 s 1.]Notes:Effective date—2019 c 325: "Except as provided in sections 6005 and 6007 of this act, this act takes effect January 1, 2020." [ 2019 c 3…
RCW 71.24.015 Legislative intent—Community behavioral health system.
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It is the intent of the legislature to establish a community behavioral health system which shall help people experiencing mental illness or a substance use disorder to retain a respected and productive position in the community. This will be accomplished through programs that fo…
RCW 71.24.016 Intent—Management of services—Work group on long-term involuntary inpatient care integration.
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(1) The legislature intends that eastern and western state hospitals shall operate as clinical centers for handling the most complicated long-term care needs of patients with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder. It is further the intent of the legislature that the community be…
RCW 71.24.025 Definitions.
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "23-hour crisis relief center" means a community-based facility or portion of a facility which is licensed or certified by the department of health and open 24 hours a…
RCW 71.24.030 Grants, purchasing of services, for community behavioral health programs.
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The director is authorized to make grants and/or purchase services from counties, tribes, combinations of counties, or other entities, to establish and operate community behavioral health programs.[ 2024 c 209 s 29; 2019 c 325 s 1005; 2018 c 201 s 4003; 2005 c 503 s 3; 2001 c 323…
RCW 71.24.035 Director's powers and duties as state behavioral health authority.
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(1) The authority is designated as the state behavioral health authority which includes recognition as the single state authority for substance use disorders, state opioid treatment authority, and state mental health authority.(2) The director shall provide for public, client, tr…
RCW 71.24.037 Licensed or certified behavioral health agencies—Minimum standards—Inspections.
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(1) The secretary shall license or certify any agency or facility that: (a) Submits payment of the fee established under RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.250; and (b) submits a complete application that demonstrates the ability to comply with requirements for operating and maintaining an …
RCW 71.24.038 Investigations and inspections—Violations—Penalties.
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(1) The department shall review reports or other information alleging a failure to comply with this chapter or the standards and rules adopted under this chapter and may initiate investigations and enforcement actions based on those reports.(2) The department shall conduct inspec…
RCW 71.24.045 Behavioral health administrative services organization powers and duties.
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(1) The behavioral health administrative services organization contracted with the authority pursuant to RCW 71.24.381 shall:(a) Administer crisis services for the assigned regional service area. Such services must include:(i) A behavioral health crisis hotline that operates 24 h…
RCW 71.24.061 Children's mental health provider networks—Children's mental health evidence-based practice institute—Partnership access line pilot programs—Report to legislature.
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(1) The authority shall provide flexibility to encourage licensed or certified community behavioral health agencies to subcontract with an adequate, culturally competent, and qualified children's mental health provider network.(2) To the extent that funds are specifically appropr…
RCW 71.24.062 Psychiatry consultation line—Implementation.
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(1) To the extent that funds are specifically appropriated for this purpose or nonstate funds are available, the authority in collaboration with the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences shall implement a psychiatric consultation call center to…
RCW 71.24.063 Partnership access lines—Psychiatric consultation lines—Data collection.
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(1) The University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences shall collect the following information for the partnership access line for moms described in RCW 71.24.061(3)(a)(ii), and the psychiatric consultation line described in RCW 71.24.062, in coordinati…
RCW 71.24.064 Partnership access lines—Psychiatric consultation lines—Funding—Performance measures.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2254.SL) ***(1) Beginning July 1, 2021, the partnership access lines described in RCW 71.24.061(3)(a), the psychiatric consultation line described in RCW 71.24.062, and the first approach skills training program described in RCW 71.24.061(3)(a)(iv) sha…
RCW 71.24.066 Partnership access line pilot programs—Determination to be made permanent—Long-term funding.
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Using data from the reports required in RCW 71.24.061(5), the legislature shall decide whether to make the partnership access line for moms and the partnership access line for kids referral and assistance [service] programs, as described in *RCW 71.24.061(3)(a)(ii), permanent pro…
RCW 71.24.067 Partnership access lines—Psychiatric consultation lines—Review.
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(1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a review, in consultation with the authority, the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral science[s,] and Seattle children's hospital, of the programs as described in RCW 71.24.061(3)(a) a…
RCW 71.24.068 Telebehavioral health access account.
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The telebehavioral health access account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from collections under RCW 71.24.064 must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for support…
RCW 71.24.100 County-run behavioral health administrative services organizations—Joint operating agreements—Requirements.
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(1) A county authority or a group of county authorities may enter into a joint operating agreement to submit a request to contract with the authority to operate a behavioral health administrative services organization whose boundaries are consistent with the regional service area…
RCW 71.24.112 Health engagement hubs pilot program.
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(1)(a) The authority shall implement a pilot program for health engagement hubs by August 1, 2024. The pilot program will test the functionality and operability of health engagement hubs, including whether and how to incorporate and build on existing medical, harm reduction, trea…
RCW 71.24.113 Grant program—Employment and education opportunities for persons recovering from a substance use disorder.
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Subject to funding provided for this specific purpose, the authority shall establish a grant program for providers of employment, education, training, certification, and other supportive programs designed to provide persons recovering from a substance use disorder with employment…
RCW 71.24.115 Recovery navigator programs.
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(1) Each behavioral health administrative services organization shall establish recovery navigator programs with the goal of providing law enforcement and other criminal legal system personnel with a credible alternative to further legal system involvement for criminal activity t…
RCW 71.24.125 Grant program—Treatment services—Regional access standards.
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(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall establish a grant program to:(a) Provide treatment services for low-income individuals with substance use disorder who are not eligible for medical assistance programs under cha…
RCW 71.24.135 Expanded recovery support services program—Regional expanded recovery plans.
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(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall establish the expanded recovery support services program to increase access to recovery services for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.(2) In establishing the …
RCW 71.24.145 Homeless outreach stabilization transition program—Psychiatric outreach—Contingency management resources—Substance misuse prevention effort—Grants.
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(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the authority shall establish a homeless outreach stabilization transition program to expand access to modified assertive community treatment services provided by multidisciplinary behavioral healt…
RCW 71.24.155 Grants to behavioral health administrative services, managed care organizations, and Indian health care providers—Accounting.
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Grants shall be made by the authority to behavioral health administrative services organizations, managed care organizations for community behavioral health programs, and Indian health care providers who have community behavioral health programs totaling not less than ninety-five…
RCW 71.24.160 Proof as to uses made of state funds—Use of maintenance of effort funds.
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The behavioral health administrative services organizations shall make satisfactory showing to the director that state funds shall in no case be used to replace local funds from any source being used to finance mental health services prior to January 1, 1990. Maintenance of effor…
RCW 71.24.200 Expenditures of county funds subject to county fiscal laws.
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Expenditures of county funds under this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 36.40 RCW and other statutes relating to expenditures by counties.[ 1967 ex.s. c 111 s 20.]
RCW 71.24.215 Sliding-scale fee schedules for clients receiving behavioral health services.
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Clients receiving behavioral health services funded by available resources shall be charged a fee under sliding-scale fee schedules, based on ability to pay, approved by the authority. Fees shall not exceed the actual cost of care.[ 2019 c 325 s 1013; 2018 c 201 s 4011; 1982 c 20…
RCW 71.24.220 State grants may be withheld for noncompliance with chapter or related rules.
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The director may withhold state grants in whole or in part for any community behavioral health program in the event of a failure to comply with this chapter or the related rules adopted by the authority.[ 2019 c 325 s 1014; 2018 c 201 s 4012; 1999 c 10 s 8; 1982 c 204 s 12; 1967 …
RCW 71.24.240 Eligibility for funding—Community behavioral health program plans to be approved by director prior to submittal to federal agency.
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In order to establish eligibility for funding under this chapter, any behavioral health administrative services organization seeking to obtain federal funds for the support of any aspect of a community behavioral health program as defined in this chapter shall submit program plan…
RCW 71.24.250 Behavioral health administrative services organizations—Receipt of gifts and grants.
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The behavioral health administrative services organization may accept and expend gifts and grants received from private, county, state, and federal sources.[ 2019 c 325 s 1016; 2014 c 225 s 38; 2001 c 323 s 16; 1982 c 204 s 14; 1967 ex.s. c 111 s 25.]Notes:Effective date—2019 c 3…
RCW 71.24.260 Waiver of postgraduate educational requirements—Mental health professionals.
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The department shall waive postgraduate educational requirements applicable to mental health professionals under this chapter for those persons who have a bachelor's degree and on June 11, 1986:(1) Are employed by an agency subject to licensure under this chapter, the community b…
RCW 71.24.300 Behavioral health administrative services organizations—Advisory boards—Inclusion of tribes—Roles and responsibilities.
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(1) Each behavioral health administrative services organization shall appoint a behavioral health advisory board which shall review and provide comments on plans and policies developed under this chapter, provide local oversight regarding the activities of the behavioral health a…
RCW 71.24.335 Reimbursement for behavioral health services provided through telemedicine or store and forward technology—Coverage requirements—Audio-only telemedicine.
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(1) Upon initiation or renewal of a contract with the authority, behavioral health administrative services organizations and managed care organizations shall reimburse a provider for a behavioral health service provided to a covered person through telemedicine or store and forwar…
RCW 71.24.370 Behavioral health services contracts—Limitation on state liability.
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(1) Except for monetary damage claims which have been reduced to final judgment by a superior court, this section applies to all claims against the state, state agencies, state officials, or state employees that exist on or arise after March 29, 2006.(2) Except as expressly provi…
RCW 71.24.380 Purchase of behavioral health services—Contracting—Requirements.
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(1) The director shall purchase behavioral health services primarily through managed care contracting, but may continue to purchase behavioral health services directly from providers serving medicaid clients who are not enrolled in a managed care organization.(2) The director sha…
RCW 71.24.381 Contracting for crisis services and medically necessary physical and behavioral health services.
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(1) The authority shall contract with one or more behavioral health administrative services organizations to carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth in this chapter and chapter 71.05 RCW to provide crisis services to assigned regional service areas.(2) For clients eli…
RCW 71.24.383 Managed care organization contracting—Requirements.
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By January 1, 2023, the authority shall require that any contract with a managed care organization include a requirement to provide housing-related care coordination services for enrollees who need such services upon being discharged from inpatient behavioral health settings as a…
RCW 71.24.385 Behavioral health administrative services and managed care organizations—Mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs—Development and design requirements.
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(1) Within funds appropriated by the legislature for this purpose, behavioral health administrative services organizations and managed care organizations, as applicable, shall develop the means to serve the needs of people:(a) With mental disorders residing within the boundaries …
RCW 71.24.400 Streamlining delivery system—Finding.
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The legislature finds that the current complex set of federal, state, and local rules and regulations, audited and administered at multiple levels, which affect the community mental health service delivery system, focus primarily on the process of providing mental health services…
RCW 71.24.405 Streamlining delivery system.
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The authority shall work comprehensively and collaboratively with behavioral health administrative services organizations and with local behavioral health service providers to create innovative and streamlined community behavioral health service delivery systems and to capture th…
RCW 71.24.415 Streamlining delivery system—Authority duties to achieve outcomes.
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To carry out the purposes specified in RCW 71.24.400, the authority is encouraged to utilize its authority to eliminate any unnecessary rules, regulations, standards, or contracts, to immediately eliminate duplication of audits or any other unnecessarily duplicated functions, and…
RCW 71.24.420 Expenditure of funds for operation of service delivery system—Appropriation levels—Outcome and performance measures—Report.
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The authority shall operate the community behavioral health service delivery system authorized under this chapter within the following constraints:(1) The full amount of federal funds for community behavioral health system services, plus qualifying state expenditures as appropria…
RCW 71.24.430 Coordination of services for behavioral health clients—Collaborative service delivery.
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(1) The authority shall ensure the coordination of allied services for behavioral health clients. The authority shall implement strategies for resolving organizational, regulatory, and funding issues at all levels of the system, including the state, the behavioral health administ…
RCW 71.24.432 Coordination with regional crisis response systems—Regional protocols—Recommendations.
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Behavioral health administrative services organizations shall use their authorities under RCW 71.24.045 to establish coordination within the behavioral health crisis response system in each regional service area including, but not limited to, establishing comprehensive protocols …
RCW 71.24.435 Behavioral health system—Improvement strategy.
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(1) The systems responsible for financing, administration, and delivery of publicly funded mental health and substance use disorder services to adults must be designed and administered to achieve improved outcomes for adult clients served by those systems through increased use an…
RCW 71.24.450 Offenders with mental illnesses—Findings and intent.
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(1) Many offenders with acute and chronic mental illness are delayed in their release from Washington correctional facilities due to their inability to access reasonable treatment and living accommodations prior to the maximum expiration of their sentences. Often the offender rea…
RCW 71.24.455 Offenders with mental illnesses—Contracts for specialized access and services.
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(1) The director shall select and contract with a behavioral health administrative services organization, managed care organization, behavioral health agency, or private provider to provide specialized access and services to offenders with mental illness upon release from total c…
RCW 71.24.460 Offenders with mental illnesses—Report to legislature.
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The authority, in collaboration with the department of corrections and the oversight committee created in RCW 71.24.455, shall track outcomes and submit to the legislature annual reports regarding services and outcomes. The reports shall include the following: (1) A statistical a…
RCW 71.24.470 Reentry community services program—Contract for case management—Use of appropriated funds.
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(1) The director shall contract, to the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, for case management services and such other services as the director deems necessary to assist persons identified under RCW 72.09.370 for participation in the reentry community services p…
RCW 71.24.480 Reentry community services program—Limitation on liability due to treatment—Reporting requirements.
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(1) A licensed or certified behavioral health agency acting in the course of the agency's duties under this chapter and its individual employees are not liable for civil damages resulting from the injury or death of another caused by a participant in the reentry community service…