What is a "Wellness Recovery Action Plan"? What is a "Mental Health Advance Directive"?

See Wellness Recovery Action Plan and Advance Directives within the Recovery section.

What is Western State Hospital (WSH)?

Western State Hospital is one of two state-owned psychiatric hospitals for adults. The hospital provides evaluation and inpatient treatment for individuals with serious or long-term mental illness that are referred through the Behavioral Health Organization (BHO) system. Western State Hospital is the regional state psychiatric hospital for 19 western Washington counties for voluntary admissions and involuntary commitments. Western State Hospital serves the needs of western Washington for all individuals who have been committed due to a criminal proceeding.

What is a Less Restrictive Order (LRO) or a Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA)?

An LRO/LRA is a court order that gives conditions that must be met for an individual to leave the hospital. Individuals with LROs/LRAs must follow the condition of the court order or they may be detained and returned to a hospital setting.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, psychologist, and an MSW?

Psychiatrist: A person having a license to practice as a physician and surgeon in this state and in addition has completed three years of graduate training in
psychiatry in a program approved by the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association and is certified or eligible to be certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. RCW 71.34.020

Psychologist: A person licensed by a state examining board. This person must pass an oral or written exam or both as prescribed by the examining board. In addition, this person must have a doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution obtained from an integrated program of graduate study in psychology. This person must also have had at least two years of supervised experience of which at least was one must have been after the doctoral degree was granted. RCW 18.83.070

MSW: A person with a masters or further advanced degree from a school of social work or a degree deemed equivalent under rules adopted by the Secretary of DSHS. RCW 71.34.020

Do I qualify for King County Mental Health Services? (Also see “Insurance Coverage ”)

You qualify for King County Mental Health Services if you meet both financial and medical necessity criteria.

What if I don’t qualify?

See other low cost providers. Many of our agencies offer “sliding scale” or reduced fees for privately paid mental health services. Not all agencies offer privately paid services and availability is based on whether the agency has the capacity to offer privately paid services at the time of the call.

How do I enroll in services?

You can contact anyone on our list of mental health providers and ask for a first time or intake appointment. You may also call Client Services at 1-800-790-8049 or the Ombuds service, or TTY at 206-205-0569 during business hours if you need help finding a mental health center near you.

I’m moving to King County and I will need mental health services. Who should I contact?

If you are covered by Medicaid, please contact your Community Service Office through DSHS to have your coupon switched to King County with your new King County address. Once you have switched to a King County medical coupon, you can call one of our King County mental health service providers.

I don’t live in Seattle but I do live in King County. Can I still get help?

Mental health services are available throughout all regions of King County. For help finding a community mental health center near you, call Client Services at 1-800-790-8049.

What if I move out of King County? Can I still get services through King County?

Sorry, but only people who have King County medical coupons can receive our services. If you move but remain in King County, you can simply choose another mental health provider that is closer to your new location. Anyone living outside King County will need to get mental health services in the county in which they live.

The agency I called won’t take my coupon. What should I do?

You may want to check with your DSHS worker or call your local Community Service Office to verify what type of coverage you have. If you do have a King County medical coupon, call the King County Mental Health Ombuds Service or the Client Services office 1-800-790-8049 to assist you with enrolling in services.

I am an undocumented person. How can I get mental health services?

The community mental health centers usually work with people who have Medicaid or other coverage, but you may wish to contact the Crisis Clinic for places that may offer services to undocumented individuals.

I only want medication. What can I do?

Although any doctor can prescribe medicine, having a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner prescribe medications is often most helpful. You may decide to ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist. King County mental health providers have psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners that are able to offer a “meds only” treatment approach if it is agreed upon between you and your psychiatric provider.

I am out of my medications. What can I do?

If you are enrolled in a mental health agency, contact your agency and ask to see someone “ASAP”. If you have trouble getting an appointment, call Client Services to assist you. If you are not enrolled, call the Crisis Clinic Community Information Line or visit your local hospital emergency department.

Who will provide most of my mental health services?

If you have received a psychiatric evaluation and need medications, at minimum, you will see either an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) or a psychiatrist on a quarterly basis. Talk to your mental health case manager or clinician if you have concerns about medications or would like to discuss side effects or a change in your medication. They will listen to your concerns and likely arrange for you to see your ARNP or psychiatrist to address your concerns. Most other services will be provided by a mental health case manager or clinician.

I have a GAU coupon. Where can I go for mental health care?

Please contact the medical clinic that you were assigned to by DSHS and ask to speak with a care manager. The care manager may tell you that mental health care is available for you at your primary medical clinic, or they may give you a number to call a community mental health agency. Further questions can be answered by the client services staff at the Community Health Plan of Washington.

Can you refer me to a psychiatrist who takes Medicaid coupons?

All King County service providers offer psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners that provide medication services. Not many psychiatrists in private practice accept Medicaid coupons. King County Mental Health does not have a list of private psychiatrists.

What can I do if I have Healthy Options or Molina Healthcare?

If you have a qualifying Medicaid coupon, you may contact one of the community mental health centers, as described above. If the community mental health centers tell you that you are not eligible for their services, you may wish to contact your medical doctor/agency. For details about your coverage, contact your insurance provider.

What do I do if I or my children have a Washington Basic Health Plan?

This plan may include some mental health care, including some outpatient care, some medication management and hospitalization. Your Washington Basic Health Plan primary care physician may refer you to mental health staff at your assigned medical clinic. Some clinics have a relatively small co-payment. You may call the Washington Basic Health Plan at 1-800-826-2444 to request a brochure and enrollment packet. Some children have Washington Basic Health Plan PLUS, which means they are covered for mental health services. You may call one of the community mental health agencies and let the intake worker know that your child has Washington Basic Health Plan PLUS.

How do I know if the provider I have chosen is a King County Mental Health Plan (KCMHP) provider?

Only those agencies listed on our King County Mental Health Service Provider list are in the KCMHP.

Will my medical coupon pay for services from a psychiatrist/non-contracted provider?

Private providers are not covered under our KCMHP provider list. If your private provider is interested in billing Medicaid for your services, they need to contact the Department of Health, Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) directly.

The agency I called won’t take my coupon. What should I do?

You may want to check with your DSHS worker or call your local Community Service Office to verify what type of coverage you have. If you do have a King County medical coupon, call the King County Mental Health Ombuds Service or the King County Mental Health Client Services office 1-800-790-8049 to assist you with enrolling in services.