GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 849 2024 Regular Session Illg
HEALTH CARE/FACILITIES: Provides relative to healthcare outcomes for patient's
suffering with behavioral health issues.
DIGEST
Proposed law states that if a patient is admitted for inpatient behavioral healthcare services
as a result of an emergency certificate issued by a physician, the individual that is responsible
for discharge planning at the inpatient healthcare facility shall make a reasonable effort to
do all of the following:
(1)Notify any healthcare professional that is known to be currently treating the patient
for a behavioral healthcare condition that the patient is to be discharged, unless the
patient objects to the notification.
(2)Notify the healthcare professional that the patient is referred to for follow-up
behavioral healthcare services of the patient's discharge no later than 24 hours after
the patient is discharged. The notice shall include of a summary of the patient's
condition and any medically relevant information.
(3)Provide the patient educational documents created and published by the La.
Department of Health prior to discharge explaining the signs of self-harm and the
importance of seeking follow-up care.
Proposed law requires a healthcare professional that provides behavioral health services to
accept documents from the family, friends, loved ones, and caregivers of the patient about
the patient's condition. Proposed law further requires the healthcare professional to add
documentation considered relevant by the healthcare professional to the patient's medical
record.
Proposed law designates proposed law as the "Matthew Samuel Milam Act"."
(Adds R.S. 28:4 and 53.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare
to the original bill:
1. Add that healthcare professionals may communicate via telephone
conversation to satisfy the requirements of this proposed law.
2. Add that the La. Department of Health shall create and publish educational
documents about the risks to a patient after discharge from an admission
pursuant to an emergency certification.
3. Provide that a healthcare provider has the discretion to include collected
documentation from family, friends, loved ones, and caregivers about the
patient's condition in the patient's medical record.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the engrossed bill
1. Changes provisions relative to reporting information upon a patient's
discharge.
Page 1 of 2
Prepared by Amanda Trapp. 2. Moves provisions relative to documentation and other information provided
by a patient's family members, caregivers, friend, or healthcare professionals.
3. Makes technical changes.
Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Amanda Trapp.