House Bill No. by Representative Fisher amends R.S. 28:53.1 to enhance the procedures for admission and discharge of patients receiving behavioral healthcare services, particularly those admitted under an emergency certificate. The bill introduces new requirements for healthcare facilities, mandating that within seventy-two hours of a patient's admission, a licensed healthcare professional must conduct a behavioral health evaluation and contact the patient's primary healthcare provider to establish a treatment history.

Upon discharge, the bill outlines specific responsibilities for the discharge planning team, including notifying current healthcare providers about the discharge, providing a summary of the patient's medical history, and ensuring the patient receives educational materials about self-harm warning signs and the importance of follow-up care. Additionally, the bill requires that patients be given appropriate prescriptions at the time of discharge. These changes aim to improve continuity of care and support for patients transitioning out of emergency behavioral health services.

Statutes affected:
HB1139 Enrolled: