- Admission to any inpatient setting requires a determination of medical necessity, financial eligibility, and willingness of the program to admit the youth.
- The following are referred to as voluntary admissions:
- For all minors under 13 years of age, a parent must give consent.
- A minor 13-18 years of age and their parents may jointly give consent.
- A minor 13-18 years of age may give consent for admission without parental agreement.
- The treatment facility must notify the parents in a way that will most likely reach the parent within twenty-four hours of the admission. RCW 71.34.044
- Involuntary admission:
- In the event of any minor 13 years of age or older (and/or his/her parent) refuses admission, the minor may be evaluated and detained involuntarily by a DMHP (DMHP) in accordance with RCW 71.34.
- If the DMHP makes a decision that the minor does not require inpatient treatment, the parent can seek review of that decision made by the DMHP in court. RCW 71.34
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Parent initiated admission
(an option created in 1995 through legislation known as the At Risk Youth or "Becca" bill):- A parent may give consent for admission of their minor child. The consent of the minor is not required. RCW 71.34
- A parent may give consent for continued in patient care in the event his/her previously unwilling minor child requests discharge during an inpatient stay. RCW 71.34
- Providers are not obligated to provide treatment to a minor under the provisions of this section. RCW 71.34 (4)
- This is NOT considered an “involuntary admission” in spite of the fact it is against the minor's will.