Behavioral Health Agencies (BHA)

February Credentialing Freeze: All licensing and credentialing systems for health professionals and facilities will be unavailable on Friday, February 14 from 5 p.m. until the morning of Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to complete system upgrades. Please complete your applications and renewals now to avoid delays.
 Patients displaced by the recent suspension of Rainier Recovery in Pierce County can view potential other treatment options here

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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.

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BHA Licensing, Certification, and Fees

BHA licensure and certification is required if an agency intends to seek Medicaid reimbursement, provide court-ordered mental health or SUD services, or as otherwise specified by state law.

* Credentialed behavioral health professionals providing general behavioral health services and billing under their professional credential are not required to be licensed as a BHA.

Behavioral Health Treatment Options for Minors

Behavioral Health Treatment Options for Minors (PDF)

EMS Guidelines Transport to Behavioral Health Facilities

The Washington State Department of Health (department), developed this guideline (PDF) to provide direction to regional emergency medical service (EMS) & trauma care councils for developing patient care procedures, local EMS councils with developing county operating procedures and EMS physician medical program directors (MPD) in developing their prehospital patient care protocols for EMS transport to behavioral health facilities.

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)

OTPs are considered a BHA and require additional steps for licensing and accreditation. See the OTP webpage for additional information.

BHA Tribal Attestation

Tribal BHAs applying for licensure and certification may attest that its agency meets the state minimum standards. See the Applications and Forms webpage for the Tribal Attestation process and FAQ.

Inspection Process

DOH is required to inspect BHAs as part of the initial licensing process and at regular intervals. See the BHA Inspection Process webpage for more information.

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File a Complaint

Anyone with knowledge about an incident or event that happened in one of the agencies or facilities regulated by DOH may file a complaint.

Critical Incident and Death Reporting

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.

BHA Laws and Regulations
BHA and Professions Licensing Renewals
Current Topics
  • The Department of Health and the Health Care Authority recently released guidance for accepting SUD assessments from non-BHAs (PDF). Licensed BHAs, certified to provide SUD services, may accept an SUD assessment from a non-BHA for the purpose of initiating treatment if it was completed in the last 12 months and conducted by an appropriately WA state licensed/credentialed professional using ASAM criteria.
  • The Department of Health released a policy statement (PDF)  allowing licensed BHAs to provide “face-to-face” or “in person” services or assessments either in person or through synchronous video conferencing, also known as telehealth technologies. 
  • The Department of Health released a policy statement (PDF) to allow licensed behavioral health agencies (BHA) to use either the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5), when completing a diagnostic assessment.
  • Notice of Emergency Rule filing. The Department of Health adopted an emergency rule to amend WAC 246-341-0342 (P.,kDF) to define a mobile unit for Behavioral Health Agencies (BHA) and allow Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) to add a mobile unit as an extension of an existing license. See the OTP Mobile Units webpage for more detail about the mobile unit approval process.
  • Notice of Emergency Rule filing. The Department of Health adopted an emergency rule (PDF) clarifying that all health care facilities licensed by the department must comply with state and federal statutes, administrative rules, lawful orders, and other legal requirements relating to the operation of the facility and the control or prevention of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • The Department of Health released an Interpretive Statement (PDF) regarding the annual medical exam required in WAC 246-341-1020 (12) to allow Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) physicians to conduct the exam either in person or via telehealth technologies. 
  • Department of Health has released a Policy Statement (PDF) regarding the department's intent to allow a licensed professional holding a co-occurring disorder specialist enhancement to be able to perform certain substance use disorder assessment and treatment activities in a behavioral health agency according to ESHB 1678.
  • The department, in recognition of Tribal Sovereignty, now accepts Tribal Attestation for Behavioral Health Agencies that meet the state minimum licensure and certification standards. The department also established a $261 fee for tribal attestations (PDF) in order to support the administrative cost of receiving and recording new or renewed tribal attestations.
  • The department has released a Policy Interpretive Statement (PDF) regarding the interpretation of “clinical supervision” as it relates to mental health professionals working in behavioral health agencies licensed under chapter 246-341 WAC.
  • As of July 1, 2019, Substance Use Disorder Peer Support Services is now included in the Medicaid State Plan. This allows appropriately licensed Behavioral Health Agencies to provide peer support services for substance use disorders and request Medicaid reimbursement. At this time, licensed agencies don't need a new certification in order to provide this service. See this letter for more details regarding certification.

Contact and connect

Contact BHA staff members | Contact call center staff members | Email customer service staff members | Phone: 360-236-4700

How to stay informed

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