RCW 71.24.310 Administration of chapters 71.05 and 71.24 RCW through behavioral health organizations—Implementation of chapter 71.05 RCW. (Effective until January 1, 2020.)

The legislature finds that administration of chapter 71.05 RCW and this chapter can be most efficiently and effectively implemented as part of the behavioral health organization defined in RCW 71.24.025. For this reason, the legislature intends that the authority and the behavioral health organizations shall work together to implement chapter 71.05 RCW as follows:

(1) Behavioral health organizations shall recommend to the authority the number of state hospital beds that should be allocated for use by each behavioral health organization. The statewide total allocation shall not exceed the number of state hospital beds offering long-term inpatient care, as defined in this chapter, for which funding is provided in the biennial appropriations act.

(2) If there is consensus among the behavioral health organizations regarding the number of state hospital beds that should be allocated for use by each behavioral health organization, the authority shall contract with each behavioral health organization accordingly.

(3) If there is not consensus among the behavioral health organizations regarding the number of beds that should be allocated for use by each behavioral health organization, the authority shall establish by emergency rule the number of state hospital beds that are available for use by each behavioral health organization. The primary factor used in the allocation shall be the estimated number of adults with acute and chronic mental illness in each behavioral health organization area, based upon population-adjusted incidence and utilization.

(4) The allocation formula shall be updated at least every three years to reflect demographic changes, and new evidence regarding the incidence of acute and chronic mental illness and the need for long-term inpatient care. In the updates, the statewide total allocation shall include (a) all state hospital beds offering long-term inpatient care for which funding is provided in the biennial appropriations act; plus (b) the estimated equivalent number of beds or comparable diversion services contracted in accordance with subsection (5) of this section.

(5) The authority is encouraged to enter performance-based contracts with behavioral health organizations to provide some or all of the behavioral health organization's allocated long-term inpatient treatment capacity in the community, rather than in the state hospital. The performance contracts shall specify the number of patient days of care available for use by the behavioral health organization in the state hospital.

(6) If a behavioral health organization uses more state hospital patient days of care than it has been allocated under subsection (3) or (4) of this section, or than it has contracted to use under subsection (5) of this section, whichever is less, it shall reimburse the authority for that care. Reimbursements must be calculated using quarterly average census data to determine an average number of days used in excess of the bed allocation for the quarter. The reimbursement rate per day shall be the hospital's total annual budget for long-term inpatient care, divided by the total patient days of care assumed in development of that budget.

(7) One-half of any reimbursements received pursuant to subsection (6) of this section shall be used to support the cost of operating the state hospital. The authority shall distribute the remaining half of such reimbursements among behavioral health organizations that have used less than their allocated or contracted patient days of care at that hospital, proportional to the number of patient days of care not used.

[ 2018 c 201 § 4015; 2017 c 222 § 1; 2014 c 225 § 40; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 4 § 994. Prior: 2009 c 564 § 1810; 2009 c 564 § 952; 2006 c 333 § 107; 1989 c 205 § 6.]

NOTES:

Findings—Intent—Effective date—2018 c 201: See notes following RCW 41.05.018.

Effective date—2014 c 225: See note following RCW 71.24.016.

Effective dates—2013 2nd sp.s. c 4: See note following RCW 2.68.020.

Effective date—2009 c 564: See note following RCW 2.68.020.

Finding—Purpose—Intent—Severability—Part headings not law—Effective dates—2006 c 333: See notes following RCW 71.24.016.

Evaluation of transition to regional systems—1989 c 205: See note following RCW 71.24.015.