RCW 71.24.045 Behavioral health organization powers and duties. (Effective until January 1, 2020.)

The behavioral health organization shall:

(1) Contract as needed with licensed or certified service providers. The behavioral health organization may, in the absence of a licensed or certified service provider entity, become a licensed or certified service provider entity pursuant to minimum standards required for licensing or certification by the department for the purpose of providing services not available from licensed or certified service providers;

(2) Operate as a licensed or certified service provider if it deems that doing so is more efficient and cost-effective than contracting for services. When doing so, the behavioral health organization shall comply with rules adopted by the director that shall provide measurements to determine when a behavioral health organization provided service is more efficient and cost-effective;

(3) Monitor and perform biennial fiscal audits of licensed or certified service providers who have contracted with the behavioral health organization to provide services required by this chapter. The monitoring and audits shall be performed by means of a formal process which insures that the licensed or certified service providers and professionals designated in this subsection meet the terms of their contracts;

(4) Establish reasonable limitations on administrative costs for agencies that contract with the behavioral health organization;

(5) Assure that the special needs of minorities, older adults, individuals with disabilities, children, and low-income persons are met within the priorities established in this chapter;

(6) Maintain patient tracking information in a central location as required for resource management services and the authority's information system;

(7) Collaborate to ensure that policies do not result in an adverse shift of persons with mental illness into state and local correctional facilities;

(8) Work with the authority to expedite the enrollment or reenrollment of eligible persons leaving state or local correctional facilities and institutions for mental diseases;

(9) Work closely with the designated crisis responder to maximize appropriate placement of persons into community services;

(10) Coordinate services for individuals who have received services through the community mental health system and who become patients at a state psychiatric hospital to ensure they are transitioned into the community in accordance with mutually agreed upon discharge plans and upon determination by the medical director of the state psychiatric hospital that they no longer need intensive inpatient care; and

(11) Allow reimbursement for time spent supervising persons working toward satisfying supervision requirements established for the relevant practice areas pursuant to RCW 18.225.090.

[ 2018 c 201 § 4006; 2018 c 175 § 7; 2016 sp.s. c 29 § 421; 2014 c 225 § 13; 2014 c 225 § 12; 2006 c 333 § 105; 2005 c 503 § 8; 2001 c 323 § 12; 1992 c 230 § 5. Prior: 1991 c 363 § 147; 1991 c 306 § 5; 1991 c 29 § 2; 1989 c 205 § 4; 1986 c 274 § 5; 1982 c 204 § 5.]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2018 c 175 § 7 and by 2018 c 201 § 4006, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Findings—Intent—2018 c 175: See note following RCW 74.09.495.

Effective dates—2016 sp.s. c 29: See note following RCW 71.05.760.

Short title—Right of action—2016 sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.

Effective date—2014 c 225: See note following RCW 71.24.016.

Finding—Purpose—Intent—Severability—Part headings not law—Effective dates—2006 c 333: See notes following RCW 71.24.016.

Correction of references—Savings—Severability—2005 c 503: See notes following RCW 71.24.015.

Effective date—1992 c 230 § 5: "Section 5 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1995." [ 1992 c 230 § 8.]

Intent—1992 c 230: See note following RCW 72.23.025.

Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.

Conflict with federal requirements—1991 c 306: See note following RCW 71.24.015.

Effective date—1986 c 274 §§ 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9: See note following RCW 71.24.015.

RCW 71.24.045

Behavioral health administrative services organization powers and duties. (Effective January 1, 2020.)

(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 for its assigned regional service area;

(ii) Crisis response services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year;

(iii) Services related to involuntary commitments under chapters 71.05 and 71.34 RCW;

(iv) Additional noncrisis behavioral health services, within available resources, to individuals who meet certain criteria set by the authority in its contracts with the behavioral health administrative services organization. These services may include services provided through federal grant funds, provisos, and general fund state appropriations;

(v) Care coordination, diversion services, and discharge planning for nonmedicaid individuals transitioning from state hospitals or inpatient settings to reduce rehospitalization and utilization of crisis services, as required by the authority in contract; and

(vi) Regional coordination, cross-system and cross-jurisdiction coordination with tribal governments, and capacity building efforts, such as supporting the behavioral health advisory board, the behavioral health ombuds, and efforts to support access to services or to improve the behavioral health system;

(b) Administer and provide for the availability of an adequate network of evaluation and treatment services to ensure access to treatment, investigation, transportation, court-related, and other services provided as required under chapter 71.05 RCW;

(c) Coordinate services for individuals under RCW 71.05.365;

(d) Administer and provide for the availability of resource management services, residential services, and community support services as required under its contract with the authority;

(e) Contract with a sufficient number, as determined by the authority, of licensed or certified providers for crisis services and other behavioral health services required by the authority;

(f) Maintain adequate reserves or secure a bond as required by its contract with the authority;

(g) Establish and maintain quality assurance processes;

(h) Meet established limitations on administrative costs for agencies that contract with the behavioral health administrative services organization; and

(i) Maintain patient tracking information as required by the authority.

(2) The behavioral health administrative services organization must collaborate with the authority and its contracted managed care organizations to develop and implement strategies to coordinate care with tribes and community behavioral health providers for individuals with a history of frequent crisis system utilization.

(3) The behavioral health administrative services organization shall:

(a) Assure that the special needs of minorities, older adults, individuals with disabilities, children, and low-income persons are met;

(b) Collaborate with local government entities to ensure that policies do not result in an adverse shift of persons with mental illness into state and local correctional facilities; and

(c) Work with the authority to expedite the enrollment or reenrollment of eligible persons leaving state or local correctional facilities and institutions for mental diseases.

[ 2019 c 325 § 1008. Prior: 2018 c 201 § 4006; 2018 c 175 § 7; 2016 sp.s. c 29 § 421; 2014 c 225 § 13; 2014 c 225 § 12; 2006 c 333 § 105; 2005 c 503 § 8; 2001 c 323 § 12; 1992 c 230 § 5; prior: 1991 c 363 § 147; 1991 c 306 § 5; 1991 c 29 § 2; 1989 c 205 § 4; 1986 c 274 § 5; 1982 c 204 § 5.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2019 c 325: See note following RCW 71.24.011.

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Findings—Intent—2018 c 175: See note following RCW 74.09.495.

Effective dates—2016 sp.s. c 29: See note following RCW 71.05.760.

Short title—Right of action—2016 sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.

Effective date—2014 c 225: See note following RCW 71.24.016.

Finding—Purpose—Intent—Severability—Part headings not law—Effective dates—2006 c 333: See notes following RCW 71.24.016.

Correction of references—Savings—Severability—2005 c 503: See notes following RCW 71.24.015.

Effective date—1992 c 230 § 5: "Section 5 of this act shall take effect July 1, 1995." [ 1992 c 230 § 8.]

Intent—1992 c 230: See note following RCW 72.23.025.

Purpose—Captions not law—1991 c 363: See notes following RCW 2.32.180.

Conflict with federal requirements—1991 c 306: See note following RCW 71.24.015.

Effective date—1986 c 274 §§ 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9: See note following RCW 71.24.015.