This week WSHA sent a bulletin regarding hospitals’ obligation to provide notice of all statutorily available treatment options for adolescents under the Parent-Initiated Treatment (PIT) pathway. The pathway refers to when parents/guardians bring a minor between the ages 13 and 18 in for mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) evaluation or treatment without the minor’s consent.
The notice requirement includes verbal and written communication, and requires a signed acknowledgment by the parents/guardians of their receipt of the notice. The notice is mandatory, regardless of whether the minor is ultimately treated under PIT. WSHA provided members with resources to help fulfill their obligation, specifically:
- Written notice prepared by the Health Care Authority (HCA) that includes both mental health and SUD treatment options
- A list of facilities that provide adolescent SUD and co-occurring disorders (COD) residential care services
- A list of facilities that provide adolescent acute inpatient services for mental health disorders
- Contact information for HCA’s PIT notice and review administrator.