WSHA and the Department of Social and Health Services hosted a webinar about the requirements of Ricky’s Law (HB 1713) that impacts patients and hospitals.
Recording with slides available: Please click the following link, register, and you will be granted access to view the recording with slides: link
Click here for slides available as a PDF
Background: On April 1, 2018, Washington State’s Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) is extended to individuals who, as a result of their substance use disorder, are an imminent danger to self or others. Hospitals with emergency departments and inpatient units will be impacted by this new law. This new law, enacted in 2016 by the state legislature, is a significant expansion of the ITA and requires hospitals to evaluate and refer patients to the state’s crisis system who may need to be involuntarily detained because of their substance use disorder. Patients who meet involuntary detention criteria after an evaluation by a designated crisis responder (formerly known as a designated mental health professional) must be treated at a state certified secure detoxification facility.
