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 Original 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.
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.
Present law defines advanced practice registered nursing to include certain acts of medical diagnosis
or medical prescriptions of therapeutic or corrective nature, prescribing assessment studies, legend
and certain controlled drugs, therapeutic regimens, medical devices and appliances, receiving and
distributing a therapeutic regimen of prepackaged drugs prepared and labeled by a licensed
pharmacist, and free samples supplied by a drug manufacturer, and distributing drugs for
administration to and use by other individuals within the scope of practice as defined by present law.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that advanced practice registered nursing shall also
include preparation and execution of orders for the admission of patients to a treatment facility as
defined by 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) and R.S. 37:913(3)(b))