Committee on Children
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6510
AN ACT REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING
CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
Title: ROOMS.
Vote Date: 3/11/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/2/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Committee on Children
REASONS FOR BILL:
In order to allow children with psychiatric disabilities and behavioral health disorders to better
understand and have access to the resources the state offers them, this bill would require the
Behavioral Health Partnership Oversight Council to develop a single document with all
resources described in it as well as for hospital emergency departments to provide this
document to the guardians of such children upon discharge from such departments.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
There is no response from administration/agency for this bill.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Daniel Freess, M.D., Legislative Chair Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians:
Daniel Freess testified in support of this bill but has some comments to it.
He explains how even though the reasons for this bill are noble, that the discharge
information (providers, resources, and follow up information) are already provided to
all patients that show up in an Emergency room, though this bill would standardize this
process, not much would change.
 He also points out that even though people would have access to resources phone
numbers, having access does not mean they would be able to utilize it, therefore the
point of this discharge packet would be none. Even though he is not against this bill
he hopes the legislature will focus on working with relevant stakeholders to find ways
to expand resources, develop new ones and fund available options to the fullest.
Connecticut Hospital Association: The association testified in support of the bill,
though has concerns about some of its aspects.
Data is brought up regarding the impact in the amount of people who utilize
many different hospital services and the organization believes that making this
information available to members of the public in a variety of ways will help
parents and guardians connect their children with necessary evaluation and
treatment before a visit to an emergency department becomes necessary.
The association believes that there is no need to impose a mandate on hospitals
regarding distribution of information considering each hospital already does it
anyways. However, when imposing this new obligation much bureaucracy must then
take place and that just complicates things.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Patricia Rehmer, President of Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network: Patricia
Rehmer testified against this bill.
She does believe that this bill has a positive goal though she suggests that if this bill is
to proceed, that the responsibility of developing and maintaining this list of services is
more appropriately placed on the state agencies who run the BHP or who license
behavioral health providers and programs in our state.
She also explains how Massachusetts is following a similar path by being in in the
midst of executing a plan to add more than 200 psychiatric beds starting this spring.
Reported by: Gabriela Dos Santos Date: March 18th 2021
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