Establishes the Select Committee on Quality Improvement in State Hospitals (Select Committee), which receives updates, monitors, and makes recommendations regarding the state hospitals.
Requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to contract for the services of external consultants in specified focus areas related to the state hospitals, who must make recommendations to the Legislature, the Governor, and the Select Committee.
Creates the Governor's Behavioral Health Innovation Fund, with funds dedicated to improving quality of care, patient outcomes, patient and staff safety, and the efficiency of operations at the state hospitals, and allows disbursements from the fund to the DSHS upon the approval of the OFM and input by the Select Committee.
Requires the DSHS to assure that the state hospitals have adopted certain policies related to staffing models, utilization of state hospital beds, staff safety training, and the discharge process.
Provides that the DSHS must submit quarterly implementation and progress reports to the Select Committee and the OFM regarding completion of key activities, performance data, and the adoption and implementation of required policies.
Requires development of a transition plan for changing the current financing structure and financial incentives for state hospital civil bed utilization through provision of funds to behavioral health organizations (BHOs) and full integration entities in place of providing state hospital bed allocations.
From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 6656), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗
Enacted (partial veto)Enacted with partial veto · Chapter 37, Laws of 2016, 1st Special Session