The secretary shall license or certify intensive behavioral health treatment facilities that meet state minimum standards. The secretary must establish rules working with the authority and the department of social and health services to create standards for licensure or certification of intensive behavioral health treatment facilities. The rules, at a minimum, must:

Washington Code 71.24.025

(1) Clearly define clinical eligibility criteria in alignment with how “intensive behavioral health treatment facility” is defined in RCW 71.24.025;

(2) Require twenty-four hour supervision of residents;

(3) Establish staffing requirements that provide an appropriate response to the acuity of the residents, including a clinical team and a high staff to patient ratio;

(4) Establish requirements for the ability to provide services and an appropriate level of care to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The requirements must include staffing and training;

(5) Require access to regular psychosocial rehabilitation services including, but not limited to, skills training in daily living activities, social interaction, behavior management, impulse control, and self-management of medications;

(6) Establish requirements for the ability to use limited egress;

(7) Limit services to persons at least eighteen years of age; and

(8) Establish resident rights that are substantially similar to the rights of residents in long-term care facilities.

Findings—Intent—2019 c 324: “The legislature finds that there is a need for additional bed capacity and services for individuals with behavioral health needs. The legislature further finds that for many individuals, it is best for them to receive treatment in their communities and in smaller facilities that help them stay closer to home. The legislature further finds that the state hospitals are struggling to keep up with rising demand; there are challenges to finding appropriate placements for patients ready to discharge, and there are a shortage of appropriate facilities for individuals with complex behavioral health needs.

Therefore, the legislature intends to provide more options in the continuum of care for behavioral health clients by creating new facility types and by expanding the capacity of current provider types in the community.” [ 2019 c 324 § 1.]

Mental health drop-in center services pilot program—2019 c 324: See note following RCW 71.24.649.

Report—2019 c 324: See note following RCW 70.38.111.

Recommendations—Residential intensive behavioral health and developmental disability services—2019 c 324: See note following RCW 74.39A.030.