HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2612        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2007

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward R. Philips

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Edward R. Philips

8th Norfolk

1/19/2023

Samantha Montaño

15th Suffolk

3/22/2023

Lydia Edwards

Third Suffolk

4/12/2023

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

4/12/2023

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

4/14/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2612        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2007

By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2007) of Edward R. Philips relative to authorizing physician assistants to issue psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use.  Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 12 of chapter 123 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended, in line 8, by inserting after the words “licensed independent social worker licensed pursuant to sections 130 to 137, inclusive, of chapter 112,” the following words: “or a Physician Assistant licensed pursuant to section 9(e) of chapter 112”.

SECTION 2. Said section 12 is hereby further amended, in line 17, by inserting after the words “qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist,” the following words, “physician assistant,”.

SECTION 3. Said section 12 is hereby further amended, in line 21, by inserting after the words “qualified psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialist,” the following words, “physician assistant,”.

SECTION 4. Said section 12 is hereby further amended at the end by adding the following subsection:-

(f) Before any individual authorized to do so by this section of the general laws shall restrain an individual or authorize a psychiatric hold, the individual shall undergo three hours of specialized training in direct mental health evaluation. The training shall be developed pursuant to regulations and specifications developed by the department of mental health.