WSHA and the Department of Social and Health Services hosted a webinar January 30 about the new requirements under Ricky’s Law (HB 1713). For those who missed it, WSHA will host the same webinar from 12 – 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 14. Ricky’s law significantly expands the scope of Washington’s Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) and requires hospitals to take new action when presented with patients who may need to be involuntarily detained because of a substance use disorder.
Effective April 1, 2018, Washington’s ITA will extend to individuals who present an imminent danger to self or others due to a substance use disorder. Hospitals will be required to assess patients in crisis due to a substance use disorder and refer them to a designated crisis responder (formerly known as a “designated mental health professional”) for further evaluation. Under the new law, patients who meet involuntary detention criteria under the ITA must be treated at a state-certified, secure detoxification facility.
Click here to register for the Ricky’s Law webinar February 14 from 12 – 1 p.m., and read WSHA’s bulletin on the new law for more information. For questions, please contact Chelene Whiteaker at chelenew@wsha.org. (Sheena Tomar)