Greater Columbia Behavioral Health Administrative Service Office (GCBH BH-ASO) is responsible for the delivery of medically necessary Behavioral Health Crisis Services and services related to the administration of the Involuntary Treatment Act and Involuntary Commitment Act to all individuals in our Regional Service Area (RSA) regardless of insurance status, ability to pay, county of residence, or level of income.
Crisis Services, as defined by the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), include the evaluation and treatment of behavioral health crisis to all individuals experiencing a crisis. A behavioral health crisis is a turning point in the course of anything decisive or critical; a time, a stage, an event or a time of great danger or trouble, whose outcome decides whether possible bad consequences will follow.
In the Counties supported by GCBH BH-ASO, Crisis Services are available on a 24-hour basis and are intended to stabilize a person in crisis, prevent further deterioration, and provide immediate treatment and intervention in a location best suited to meet the needs of the individual. Crisis Services are provided by or under the supervision of a Mental Health Professional.
In addition, GCBH BH-ASO has discretion on the use of funds for the provision of non-crisis behavioral health services including crisis stabilization and voluntary Behavioral Health admissions for Individuals in the RSA who are not eligible for Medicaid and/or do not have third party insurance. These funds are limited to certain Priority Populations and may be restricted to State funding.