WMHCA: Legally and Ethically Launching your Private Practice

Presented By

Recorded: Summer, 2024 3 Law and Ethics CEs

Are you ready to launch your private practice? Do you feel less than fully prepared by your graduate degree to become a practice owner?

This 3-hour Law and Ethics Continuing Education Workshop was created for behavioral health providers just like you. Geared towards Graduate School students, Associate Clinicians, and those venturing into Private Practice, this workshop will provide a comprehensive discussion of a range of topics essential to launching a successful private practice. We will address crucial topics such as:

● Washington state rules regarding fee splitting and referral compensation, ● The legal distinctions between independent contracting and W2 employment, ● The legal limitations of non-compete agreements, ● The art of legally and ethically sound advertising and marketing of your clinical practice, ● Planning for continuity of care and addressing "Professional Wills," ● Navigating the range of choices regarding business entity formation.

Outline:

1. Sources of Law and Ethics Standards (0.25 hours)
2. Business Formation and Legal Liability (0.5 hours) Sole Proprietorships LLCs/PLLCs Corporations
3. Ethical and Legal Implications of Employment Structure (0.75 hours) Independent Contracting Non-compete Agreements
4. Legal and Ethical Standards for Advertising and Marketing (1 hours)
5. Professional Wills and Continuity of Care (0.5 hours)

Learning Objectives: Participants in this workshop will be able to: 1) Describe the key legal, ethical, and liability considerations regarding business formation; 2) Identify the key legal, ethical, and liability considerations when engaging with employees and/or independent contractors in healthcare settings; 3) Create strategies for legal and ethical advertising and marketing of healthcare services; 4) Compare and contrast the purpose, function, and limitations of Professional Wills and Continuity of Care documents.

EPDC CE Hours: 3

Presenter: Eric Strom

Eric Strom is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation and guidance to mental health professionals. The focus of Eric’s clinical practice is providing mental health counseling services to combat veterans. Eric is currently serving as the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.