Parental request for determination of whether adolescent has a behavioral health disorder requiring outpatient treatment — Adolescent's consent not required for evaluation and certain treatment — Treatment reviews — Discharge.

RCW 71.34.650
in effect
Sign in to generate a plain English summaryAsk Belisarius Agent
(1) A parent may bring, or authorize the bringing of, his or her adolescent child to a provider of outpatient behavioral health treatment and request that an appropriately trained professional person examine the adolescent to determine whether the adolescent has a behavioral health disorder and is in need of outpatient treatment. (2) The consent of the adolescent is not required for evaluation if a parent provides consent. (3) The professional person may evaluate whether the adolescent has a behavioral health disorder and is in need of outpatient treatment. (4) If a determination is made by a professional person under this section that an adolescent is in need of outpatient behavioral health disorder treatment, a parent of an adolescent may request and receive such outpatient treatment for his or her adolescent without the consent of the adolescent for up to twelve outpatient sessions occurring within a three-month period. (5) Following the treatment periods under subsection (4) of this section, an adolescent must provide his or her consent for further treatment with that specific professional person. (6) If a determination is made by a professional person under this section that an adolescent is in need of treatment in a less restrictive setting, including partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment, a parent of an adolescent may request and receive such treatment for his or her adolescent without the consent of the adolescent. (a) A professional person providing solely mental health treatment to an adolescent under this subsection (6) must convene a treatment review at least every thirty days after treatment begins that includes the adolescent, parent, and other treatment team members as appropriate to determine whether continued care under this subsection is medically necessary. (b) A professional person providing solely mental health treatment to an adolescent under this subsection (6) shall provide notification of the adolescent's treatment to an independent reviewer at the authority within twenty-four hours of the adolescent's first receipt of treatment under this subsection. At least every forty-five days after the adolescent's first receipt of treatment under this subsection, the authority shall conduct a review to determine whether the current level of treatment is medically necessary. (c) A professional person providing substance use disorder treatment under this subsection (6) shall convene a treatment review under (a) of this subsection and provide the notification of the adolescent's receipt of treatment to an independent reviewer at the authority as described in (b) of this subsection only if: (i) The adolescent provides written consent to the disclosure of substance use disorder treatment information including the fact of his or her receipt of such treatment; or (ii) permitted by federal law. (7) Any adolescent admitted to inpatient treatment under RCW 71.34.500 or 71.34.600 shall be discharged immediately from inpatient treatment upon written request of the parent. (1) A parent may bring, or authorize the bringing of, his or her adolescent child to a provider of outpatient behavioral health treatment and request that an appropriately trained professional person examine the adolescent to determine whether the adolescent has a behavioral health disorder and is in need of outpatient treatment. (2) The consent of the adolescent is not required for evaluation if a parent provides consent. (3) The professional person may evaluate whether the adolescent has a behavioral health disorder and is in need of outpatient treatment. (4) If a determination is made by a professional person under this section that an adolescent is in need of outpatient behavioral health disorder treatment, a parent of an adolescent may request and receive such outpatient treatment for his or her adolescent without the consent of the adolescent for up to twelve outpatient sessions occurring within a three-month period. (5) Following the treatment periods under subsection (4) of this section, an adolescent must provide his or her consent for further treatment with that specific professional person. (6) If a determination is made by a professional person under this section that an adolescent is in need of treatment in a less restrictive setting, including partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment, a parent of an adolescent may request and receive such treatment for his or her adolescent without the consent of the adolescent. (a) A professional person providing solely mental health treatment to an adolescent under this subsection (6) must convene a treatment review at least every thirty days after treatment begins that includes the adolescent, parent, and other treatment team members as appropriate to determine whether continued care under this subsection is medically necessary. (b) A professional person providing solely mental health treatment to an adolescent under this subsection (6) shall provide notification of the adolescent's treatment to an independent reviewer at the authority within twenty-four hours of the adolescent's first receipt of treatment under this subsection. At least every forty-five days after the adolescent's first receipt of treatment under this subsection, the authority shall conduct a review to determine whether the current level of treatment is medically necessary. (c) A professional person providing substance use disorder treatment under this subsection (6) shall convene a treatment review under (a) of this subsection and provide the notification of the adolescent's receipt of treatment to an independent reviewer at the authority as described in (b) of this subsection only if: (i) The adolescent provides written consent to the disclosure of substance use disorder treatment information including the fact of his or her receipt of such treatment; or (ii) permitted by federal law. (7) Any adolescent admitted to inpatient treatment under RCW 71.34.500 or 71.34.600 shall be discharged immediately from inpatient treatment upon written request of the parent.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=71.34&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026

Starting a business in Washington? Washington LLC guide: costs and requirements