The rules in WAC
388-877A-0200 through 377A-0280
apply to behavioral health agencies that provide crisis mental health services.
The definitions in WAC
388-877-0200 also apply to crisis
mental health services. The department requires all agencies and providers
affected by this rule to fully comply with the applicable requirements in
chapter 388-877 WAC, chapter 388-877A WAC, chapter 388-877B WAC, and chapter
388-877C WAC no later than September 1, 2013.
(1) Crisis mental health services are
intended to stabilize an individual in crisis to:
(a) Prevent further deterioration;
(b) Provide immediate treatment and
intervention in a location best suited to meet the needs of the individual;
and
(c) Provide treatment services
in the least restrictive environment available.
(2) Crisis mental health services include:
(e) Emergency involuntary detention services
(see WAC
388-877A-0280).
(3) An agency providing any crisis
mental health service to an individual must:
(a) Be licensed by the department as a
behavioral health agency;
(b) Be
certified by the department to provide crisis mental health services;
(c) Meet the applicable behavioral health
agency licensure, administration, personnel, and clinical requirements in
chapter
388-877 WAC, Behavioral health services administrative requirements;
and
(d) Have policies and
procedures to support and implement the:
(i)
General requirements in chapter
388-877 WAC;
(ii) Program-specific requirements in WAC
388-877A-0230 through WAC
388-877A-0280 for each crisis
mental health service provided; and
(iii) Department of Corrections Access to
Confidential Mental Health Information requirements in WAC
388-865-600 through
388-865-0640.
(4) An agency providing
crisis mental health services only is not required to meet the initial
assessment, individual service plan, and clinical record requirements in WAC
388-877-0610,
388-877-0620, and
388-877-0640.
(5) An agency must ensure crisis mental
health services:
(a) Are, with the exception
of stabilization services, available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week;
(b) Include family members,
significant others, and other relevant treatment providers, as necessary, to
provide support to the individual in crisis; and
(c) Are provided in a setting that provides
for the safety of the individual and agency staff members.
(6) An agency providing involuntary crisis
mental health services must hold a contract with the county in which it is
located, or the appropriate behavioral health organization (BHO).
