This bulletin provides hospitals with information on an upcoming change to behavioral health ombuds services, with implications for hospitals providing mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorder-related treatment services (referred to as “behavioral health”).... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about revisions to Washington State’s Notifiable Conditions regulations in chapter 246-101 WAC that take effect January 31, 2022. ... Read More >>

This bulletin provides hospitals information about 2SSB 5195, a new law requiring hospital emergency departments (EDs) and many behavioral health settings (defined below), such as inpatient psychiatric units and psychiatric hospitals, to dispense or distribute opioid overdose reversal medication to patients at risk of an opioid overdose for individual use after discharge. The purpose of the new law is to have individuals at-risk of an opioid overdose leave hospitals and behavioral health settings with opioid overdose reversal medication. Hospitals will also have to provide patients at risk of an opioid overdose with information about medications for opioid use disorder and harm reduction strategies.[i]  The requirements for hospital EDs and behavioral health settings are effective January 1, 2022.... Read More >>

This bulletin provides hospitals information on E2SHB 1477, which will redesign Washington State’s crisis behavioral health services system and tie service delivery to 9-8-8, a universal three-digit telephone number for people to call when they or a loved one experiences a behavioral health crisis.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide resources and information to hospitals and health care systems about the licensure process for Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN). ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about the new prescription monitoring program (PMP) check requirement for outpatient prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances to Apple Health patients that takes effect October 1, 2021. ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to alert hospitals and health care systems about changes in law related to SSB 5140, effective July 25, 2021. SSB 5140 states that health care providers – who are acting in good faith, within the provider's scope of practice, education, training, and experience and within the accepted standard of care – may provide health care services related to complications of pregnancy in cases in which failure to provide such care would violate the accepted standard of care or where the patient’s medical condition poses a risk to the patient’s life or bodily function. The law delineates that health care entities may limit provision of these services under ... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals of important Washington state law changes concerning telemedicine. This bulletin summarizes three new laws that were enacted in 2021 by the Washington State Legislature.... Read More >>

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform hospitals about legislative changes made during the 2021 session to the Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program.... Read More >>

This bulletin informs hospitals of two recent developments related to behavioral health services: 1. The Department of Health (DOH) final rules for Behavioral Health Agencies (including hospitals) go into effect on July 1, 2021, but DOH is planning a 6-month grace period to allow BHAs time to implement the changes. Surveyors will not issue citations for noncompliance until January 1, 2022. 2. A DOH interpretive statement for release of voluntary patients from inpatient behavioral health settings. ... Read More >>