HB677: HB677 Health; certain placement procedures for children upon discharge from a hospital or psychiatric residential treatment facility; provide

25 LC 46 1206S House Bill 677 (RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Taylor of the 173rd, Hawkins of the 27th, Hatchett of the 155th, and Oliver of the 84th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 general provisions of health, so as to provide for certain placement procedures for children2 upon discharge from a hospital or psychiatric residential treat ment facility in certain3 circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for a pplicability; to repeal4 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general8 provisions of health, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:9 "31-1-26.10 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:11 (1) 'Acute psychiatric care' means a level of care that is hig hly structured for patients12 who are a risk to themselves or others.13 (2) 'Health benefit policy' means any individual or group plan , policy, or contract for14 major medical, hospitalization, or other healthcare services issued, delivered, issued for15 delivery, or renewed in this state by a healthcare corporation, health maintenance16 H. B. 677 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 46 1206S organization, preferred provider organization, accident and sic kness insurer, fraternal17 benefit society, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or any similar18 entity. Such term shall not include contracts executed by the State of Georgia on behalf19 of state employees under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45.20 (b) Every hospital and psychiatric residential treatment facil ity in this state shall adhere21 to the following procedures for instances in which the parent, guardian, or legal custodian22 of a child not in the custody of the Department of Human Services through the Division of23 Children and Family Services who has received psychiatric care or acute psychiatric care24 at such hospital or facility fails to take physical custody of such child within 48 hours of25 a physician's discharge order from such hospital or facility:26 (1) A task force shall be assembled which shall consist of a care coordinator, the child's27 treating psychiatrist at the hospital or facility, or, if unavailable, the hospital or facility's28 medical director, and, if applicable, a representative of the D epartment of Human29 Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the health30 benefit policy of the child, and the Medicaid care management organization of such child;31 and32 (2) Such task force shall meet without delay to determine an a ppropriate medical or33 community placement of such child into an appropriate environment."34 SECTION 2.35 Each task force affected by this Act shall submit by the end of each month following the36 effective date of this Act such information as may be requested by the Multi-Agency37 Treatment for Children (MATCH) Committee within the Georgia Department of Behavioral38 Health and Developmental Disabilities. Such department shall s ubmit a report to the39 chairpersons of the House Appropriations Committee and the Sena te Appropriations40 Committee by December 31 of the year following the year in whic h this Act becomes41 effective. Such report shall include the number of children an d length of stay of such42 H. B. 677 (SUB) - 2 - 25 LC 46 1206S children at a hospital or psychiatric residential treatment fac ility during the year that the43 report is submitted but for a period of time no later than December 1 of that year.44 SECTION 3.45 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.46 H. B. 677 (SUB) - 3 -