Bill > HB691

This bill establishes a process for identifying and treating "high acuity youth," which are defined as children who, due to aggression, violence, or property destruction, require specialized inpatient psychiatric care. For any child charged with a public offense or under a court order for inpatient psychiatric treatment, a "behavioral assessment" by a "clinical professional" (a qualified licensed clinician) must occur before admission to an inpatient psychiatric hospital or pediatric teaching hospital. If the child is deemed a high acuity youth, the clinical professional must contact representatives from the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (referred to as "the department") and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to discuss a treatment plan, submitting an affidavit with their findings and recommendations. If the department and DJJ agree, an initial treatment plan is submitted to the court within 24 hours; if they disagree, a dissenting affidavit outlining the clinical basis for objection is filed. The court then makes a final decision on the treatment plan, though hospitals are not required to admit a child if they lack the resources or if it violates federal law. The bill also mandates specific reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care for these youth, requiring hospitals to provide updated treatment plans and status reports, and establishes procedures for resolving disputes and for discharging youth who commit acts of violence. Furthermore, it requires a 24-hour protocol for health facilities, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, DJJ, and the courts to ensure timely care, and outlines procedures for transferring youth to other facilities as part of their continued care.

Health and Social Services

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb691.html