RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 254 (SB 216) 2017 Regular Session Tarver
Prior law authorized any physician, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, or
psychologist to execute an emergency certificate after an actual examination of a person
alleged to be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse who is determined to be in need
of immediate care and treatment in a treatment facility because the person is determined to
be dangerous to self or others or to be gravely disabled.
New law expands this authority to the following healthcare professionals:
(1)Physician assistants when acting in accordance with their respective clinical practice
guidelines.
(2)Nurse practitioners with or without a clinical specialization who act in accordance
with a collaborative practice agreement and receive verbal approval from a
collaborating physician for executing the certificate.
Prior law included minimum data required on a certificate.
New law expands minimum data to include the date of exam and objective findings of the
physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
Prior law provided for legal authority to transport a person to a treatment facility.
New law expands legal authority to transport a person to a treatment facility to instances
where it is authorized by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
Effective August 1, 2017.
(Amends R.S. 28:53(B)(1), (2)(a) and (b), and (F))