HLS 21RS-252 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 181
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
NURSES/REGISTERED: Provides relative to admitting privileges for psychiatric mental
health nurse practitioners
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 28:51.1(A)(3)(introductory paragraph), 52(B), (E), and (G)(1),
3 52.2(A), 52.3(B), and 53(L)(2) and (P)(1)(b), relative to psychiatric mental health
4 practitioners; to provide that psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners shall be
5 allowed to prepare and execute orders for the admission of patients to licensed
6 psychiatric hospitals; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 28:51.1(A)(3)(introductory paragraph), 52(B), (E), and (G)(1),
952.2(A), 52.3(B), and 53(L)(2) and (P)(1)(b) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
10follows:
11 §51.1. Treatment facility; staff membership and institutional privileges; certain
12 healthcare providers
13 A.
14 * * *
15 (3) Staff membership, specifically delineated institutional privileges, which
16 may include the ability to prepare and execute orders for the admission of patients
17 to a treatment facility, or both, granted to a psychiatric mental health nurse
18 practitioner shall be conditioned upon all of the following requirements:
19 * * *
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HB NO. 181
1 §52. Voluntary admissions; general provisions
2 * * *
3 B. Admitting physicians and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are
4 encouraged to admit persons who have a mental illness or persons suffering from a
5 substance-related or addictive disorder to treatment facilities on voluntary admission
6 status whenever medically feasible.
7 * * *
8 E. Each person admitted on a voluntary basis shall be informed of any other
9 medically appropriate alternative treatment programs and treatment facilities known
10 to the admitting physician or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and be
11 given an opportunity to seek admission to alternative treatment programs or
12 facilities.
13 * * *
14 G.(1) No admission may be deemed voluntary unless the admitting physician
15 or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner determines that the person to be
16 admitted has the capacity to make a knowing and voluntary consent to the admission.
17 * * *
18 §52.2. Formal voluntary admission
19 A. Any person who has a mental illness or person who is suffering from a
20 substance-related or addictive disorder desiring admission to a treatment facility for
21 diagnosis or treatment of a psychiatric disorder or a substance-related or addictive
22 disorder and who is deemed suitable for formal voluntary admission by the admitting
23 physician or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner may be so admitted upon
24 his written request.
25 * * *
26 §52.3. Noncontested admission
27 * * *
28 B. A noncontested admission may be made by a physician or psychiatric
29 mental health nurse practitioner to a treatment facility in order to initiate a complete
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HB NO. 181
1 diagnostic and evaluative study. The diagnosis and evaluation shall include
2 complete medical, social, and psychological studies and, when medically indicated,
3 any other scientific study which may be necessary in order to make decisions relative
4 to the treatment needs of the patient. In the absence of specified medical reasons, the
5 diagnostic studies shall be completed in fourteen days. Alternative community-
6 based services shall be thoroughly considered.
7 * * *
8 §53. Admission by emergency certificate; extension; payment for services rendered
9 * * *
10 L.
11 * * *
12 (2) Upon arrival at the treatment facility, the escorting peace officer shall
13 then be relieved of any further responsibility and the person shall be immediately
14 examined by a physician, preferably a psychiatrist, or a psychiatric mental health
15 nurse practitioner who shall determine if the person shall be voluntarily admitted,
16 admitted by emergency certificate, or discharged.
17 * * *
18 P.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no claim for
19 payment for inpatient behavioral health services provided to a person while admitted
20 and detained in a facility that provides mental health services under an emergency
21 certificate, issued in accordance with the provisions of this Section, shall be denied
22 by Medicaid, an entity contracted with the state for the provision of Medicaid
23 services, or any hospital, health, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or
24 medical service contract, employee welfare benefit plan, contract or other agreement
25 with a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization, health
26 and accident insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type in this
27 state, including a group insurance plan, a self-insurance plan, and the Office of
28 Group Benefits programs, on the basis of medical necessity if all of the following
29 conditions are met:
30 * * *
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HB NO. 181
1 (b) The admitting physician or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
2 and the evaluating psychiatrist or medical psychologist shall offer the subject of the
3 emergency certificate the opportunity for voluntary admission pursuant to R.S.
4 28:53.
5 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 181 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Abstract: Provides admitting privileges to psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners for
preparing and executing orders for the admission of patients to licensed psychiatric
treatment facilities.
Present law provides that the governing body of a treatment facility may grant staff
membership, specifically delineated institutional privileges, or both, to a psychiatric mental
health nurse practitioner conditioned upon the nurse practitioner meeting certain
requirements pursuant to present law.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that specifically delineated privileges may include
the ability to prepare and execute orders for the admission of a patient to a treatment facility.
Present law provides that any person who has a mental illness or person who is suffering
from a substance-related or addictive disorder may apply for voluntary admissions to a
treatment facility. Further provides that admitting physicians are to admit persons suffering
from a substance-related or addictive disorder to treatment facilities.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners
may admit persons with mental illness or suffering from a substance-related or addictive
disorder pursuant to present law.
Present law provides that each patient admitted on a voluntary basis shall be informed of any
other medically appropriate alternative treatment programs and facilities known to the
admitting physician to seek admission to such programs or facilities.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
may also inform the patient of any treatment programs or facilities.
Present law provides that no admission by a patient shall be deemed voluntary unless the
admitting physician determines the patient has the capacity to make such admission.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
shall also be able to determine if an admission by a patient is deemed voluntary based upon
the patients capacity to make such admission.
Present law provides that upon the arrival of a patient to a treatment facility, the person shall
be immediately examined by a physician, preferably a psychiatrist, who will determine if the
person shall be voluntarily admitted, admitted by emergency certificate, or discharged.
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HB NO. 181
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
may also examine the person and determine if he shall be voluntarily admitted pursuant to
present law.
(Amends R.S. 28:51.1(A)(3)(intro. para.), 52(B), (E), and (G)(1), 52.2(A), 52.3(B), and
53(L)(2) and (P)(1)(b))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Deletes proposed law revising a definition of "advanced practice registered
nursing" in present law.
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