# WA Patients Wait Months After Being Ready for Release

> WA psychiatric patients deemed ready to leave hospitals wait months for discharge despite state commitments to speed up process.
- Title: WA Patients Wait Months After Being Ready for Release
- Summary: WA psychiatric patients deemed ready to leave hospitals wait months for discharge despite state commitments to speed up process. Washington state patients…
- Keywords: psychiatric, discharge, state hospitals, civil commitment, western state hospital, eastern state hospital, disability rights washington, dslhs, housing, mental health, wa state, Patients
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/patients-deemed-ready-to-leave-wa-state-hospitals-often-wait-for-months
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: wa, psychiatric, discharge, state hospitals, civil commitment, western state hospital, eastern state hospital, disability rights washington, dslhs, housing, mental health, wa state
## Discharge timelines
Patients entering Washington state hospitals for psychiatric treatment must be released within 14 days, 90 or 180 days depending on risk level.
## Waiting periods
Patients deemed ready for discharge often wait months after being found no longer to need high-level medical care.
## 2022 settlement
Washington entered a settlement with Disability Rights Washington in 2022 to improve discharge processes and reduce wait times.
## Current waits
Patients wait an average of six months after being deemed ready for discharge, despite state commitments.
## Housing barriers
Patients face housing shortages and financial barriers that delay discharge after being deemed ready.
## Costs of delay
Holding patients in state hospitals costs $1,684 per day, adding $615,000 annually per patient.
## Civil commitment
Civil commitment patients have no criminal charges but are found dangerous to themselves or others.
## Discharge planning
State begins discharge planning when clinical teams determine patients no longer need inpatient treatment.
## 2022 agreement
Washington agreed to build an online database tracking discharge wait times after 2022 settlement.
## Wait time data
Patients waited 230 days in September 2021 and 174 days by September 2025 after being deemed ready for discharge.
## Eastern hospital
Eastern State Hospital patients wait two to three months after being deemed ready for discharge.
## Patient confusion
Patients report confusion about discharge process and what steps they need to take.
## Housing challenges
Many patients lack affordable housing options after discharge, leading to homelessness.
## Peer support shortage
Shortage of peer supporters hinders transition to independent living after discharge.
## Transfers to other facilities
Most patients transferred to other state-run facilities rather than released to community.
## Discharge outcomes
20-50 patients per year are discharged directly to homeless shelters, fewer than a dozen to the street annually.
## Key takeaway

Washington state patients who are medically ready for release from psychiatric hospitals average six months waiting after being deemed safe to leave, costing taxpayers $615,000 annually.