State health officials have suspended the license of King County behavioral health agency Hope + Help, which is based in Auburn, and the credentials of its agency administrator, chemical dependency professional and mental health counselor George Frederick Brummell, pending further legal action.

Hope + Help numbers among its clients those who are court ordered to receive assessment and treatment services. According to the charges, on multiple occasions Brummell and Hope + Help failed to report positive drug tests, reported tests late or inaccurately, and incorrectly reported that clients were complying with court-ordered treatment.

In addition, the charges state that Brummell and Hope + Help let a staff member work with expired credentials and charged for individual sessions when the clients participated in group sessions.

Until the charges are resolved, Brummell cannot practice as a chemical dependency professional or as a mental health counselor, and Hope + Help cannot operate as a behavioral health agency.

Brummell and Hope + Help may contest the charges.

To examine the legal documents on Brummel’s case online, click Provider Credential Search on the Department of Health website. To ask for copies of the documents, call 360-236-4700. The DOH encourages anyone who believes a health care provider has acted unprofessionally to call this number and report their complaint.