Bill > HB19

This bill establishes a comprehensive electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry managed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to help healthcare providers and other stakeholders quickly locate available psychiatric beds across Georgia. The registry will be a web-based resource that displays real-time information about available beds, categorized by patient gender, age, acuteness, and diagnosis. Psychiatric facilities and specified healthcare providers will be required to submit near real-time bed availability data, and the department may contract with a private entity to create and maintain the system. An advisory committee will be formed, including representatives from various groups such as state departments, psychiatric facilities, end users, consumers, families, advocates, and law enforcement, to provide guidance on the registry's development and operation. The bill mandates quarterly reporting to legislative committees about the registry's implementation, starting October 1, 2025, and allows for potential secondary use of registry data. Additionally, the registry's information will be shared with the Georgia Crisis and Access Line to enhance mental health resource coordination and accessibility. The legislation aims to improve mental health service coordination and reduce barriers to finding appropriate psychiatric care.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69299