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Closing a Medical Practice inWashington

Estimated timeline: 60-90 days. This guide covers the key regulatory requirements for closing a medical practice in Washington.

Key Requirements for Washington

Provide 30 days written notice to active patients
Notify the Washington Medical Commission
Retain records for 8 years from last treatment (longer than most states)
Surrender DEA and WA DOH controlled substance registrations
Publish notice and post at practice

Patient Notification Requirements

30
Days Notice

Washington requires at least 30 days written notice to active patients. The Washington Medical Commission recommends newspaper publication and a posted notice at the practice.

Required Notification Methods

Direct mail to active patientsPublished notice in newspaperPosted notice at practice

Medical Records Retention

8
Years (Adults)
8
Years (Minors)

Washington requires medical records to be retained for at least 8 years from the last date of treatment (among the longer state requirements). Minor records must be kept until age 18 plus 8 years.

Washington Medical Commission

Board Notification Required:Yes

The Washington Medical Commission (formerly the Medical Quality Assurance Commission) must be notified of the closure.

DEA Requirements

Surrender DEA registration and Washington State Department of Health controlled substance registration.

Entity Dissolution

File Articles of Dissolution with the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division. File final tax returns with the Department of Revenue. Note: Washington has no state income tax.

Estimated Timeline: 60-90 days

This timeline is an estimate based on Washington's regulatory requirements. Your actual timeline may vary based on practice size, number of insurance panels, outstanding AR, and whether bankruptcy proceedings are involved. Brad can provide a precise estimate for your specific situation.

Get My Personalized Timeline

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