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Find a BHA
- For quarterly updates to BHA Directory, download the directory data excel file (xlsx).
- For a real-time list of licensed or certified providers, see the facility search webpage.
Report a Critical Incident or Death
- See the BHA Critical Incident Reporting Requirements webpage on which incidents to report and how. BHA critical incident reporting requirements are directed by WAC 246-341-0420. Each BHA licensed by DOH must report critical incidents within forty-eight hours.
The Department of Health (DOH) licenses and regulates inpatient and outpatient Behavioral Health Agencies that may be certified to provide mental health, substance use disorder (SUD), problem gambling and gambling disorder services, or any combination of these types of services.
- Current Topics
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BHA Services for Displaced Patients
Patients affected by the license suspensions for the three Rainier Recovery Centers in Pierce County can consult the list of Behavioral Health Agencies below to find other treatment options in Pierce and Kitsap Counties. You may also want to consult with your insurance provider. Please see the attached list (PDF).
If you can’t find a BHA near you, you can also contact the Washington Health Care Authority’s Washington Recovery Help Line at 1-866-789-1511 or by visiting their website.
The Department of Health protects and promotes public health, safety, and welfare in Washington by regulating the competency and quality of health care providers and facilities. The agency establishes, monitors, and enforces qualifications for licensing, consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms, and discipline. Rules, policies, and procedures promote the delivery of quality health care to people in Washington.
Anyone who believes a healthcare facility has violated licensing laws can report their concerns to the Department of Health by call 360-236-2620. Complaints can also be submitted via email.
- Behavioral Health Integration
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Focusing on whole-person health by integrating physical and behavioral health is part of Washington's efforts to ensure that our residents experience better health, better care, and lower costs.
Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) will help provide a holistic approach to care in one system, through a cohesive network of providers. As we integrate services to treat people more effectively, our state agencies must integrate to operate most efficiently.
House Bill 1388 (PDF), signed by Governor Inslee in 2018, furthers this goal by transferring licensing and certification of mental health, substance use disorder and problem gambling treatment programs from the Department of Social and Health Services-Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DSHS-DBHR) to the Department of Health-Health Systems Quality Assurance (DOH-HSQA). The Department of Health already licenses hospital and community residential treatment facilities, and licenses the healthcare professionals providing services throughout the state.
Our goals are to improve patient safety, and to reduce administrative licensing and certification burdens of behavioral health providers and facilities by consolidating those functions within a single agency.
What changed on July 1?
There was little noticeable change for Washington residents using behavioral health services or providers as of July 1, 2018:
Department of Health (DOH) adopted emergency rules (PDF) for licensing and certification of behavioral health services effective July 1, 2018.
The Health Care Authority (HCA) has also adopted emergency rules regarding behavioral health organizations and the behavioral healthcare delivery system.
DSHS-DBHR licensing, certification and review staff members are now DOH-HSQA employees.
Mental health, substance use disorder, and problem gambling programs now receive their licenses or certifications from DOH.
How to stay informed
Subscribe to GovDelivery! Enter your email address and then select Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA) and Behavioral Health Care Integration, along with any other topics that are of interest to you. Subscribing to this list will help you stay informed and get important updates about behavioral health agencies, including policy updates and rule-making activities.