Amendment ID: S2609-8

Amendment 8

Dual diagnosis pilot program

Mr. Pacheco moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

SECTION _. There shall be established on the campus of Taunton state hospital, a behavioral health emergency department relief pilot program to accept medically-stable individuals with high acuity behavioral health and dual diagnoses from emergency departments in the Southeast region; provided further, that medically-stable patients presenting in an emergency department with a high acuity behavioral health condition or who have a dual diagnosis shall be transferred to the pilot program if another appropriate setting cannot be located within 4 hours of admission to the emergency department; provided further, that the pilot program shall care for patients either for 14 days following admission or until an appropriate placement is found that meets the patient’s needs, whichever is sooner; provided further, that the pilot program may be operated by the department of mental health and staffed by department registered nurses, psychiatrists and other staff as needed; provided further, that within the first 6 months following the authorization of the program by the department, in consultation with the department of public health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Emergency Nurses Association shall establish a staffing plan and program protocols; provided further that for the purposes of the pilot program, Taunton state hospital may accept patients classified under section 12 of chapter 123 of the General Laws; and provided further, that the pilot program may be authorized to operate for a period of up to 2 years, with a report to be filed by the department with the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery within 6 months of the projected conclusion date of the program; provided further, that any report shall evaluate the success of the program in be operated by the department and staffed by department registered nurses, psychiatrists and other staff as needed; provided further, that within the first 6 months following the authorization of the program by the department, in consultation with the department of public health, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Emergency Nurses Association shall establish a staffing plan and program protocols; provided further that for the purposes of the pilot program, Taunton state hospital may accept patients classified under section 12 of chapter 123 of the General Laws; and provided further, that the pilot program may be authorized to operate for a period of up to 2 years, with a report to be filed by the department with the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery within 6 months of the projected conclusion date of the program; provided further, that any report shall evaluate the success of the program in decreasing emergency department overcrowding in the southeast region and the quality of care provided in the program; provided further, that the report may be drafted by an independent entity, utilizing data from the department and the local hospitals in the southeast region.