Facilities must coordinate care for emergency behavioral health patients

The facility arranges an evaluation and contacts known care providers to learn the patient's treatment history. This applies to patients admitted for inpatient behavioral health care under an emergency certificate. The provider contact is required only if the patient's primary provider or behavioral health professional is known. The evaluation and provider contact must happen within 72 hours after admission.

The discharge planner makes reasonable efforts to notify current providers, arrange care, and share follow-up information. These steps apply when a patient admitted under an emergency certificate is discharged from the facility. Staff notify known current providers about the planned discharge unless the patient objects to sharing that information. If the patient has no current behavioral health provider, the facility refers the patient to an appropriate behavioral health or primary care service. Staff must notify a provider receiving a behavioral health referral within 24 hours after discharge and send that provider a medical history and current mental health conditions summary by the scheduled follow-up date.

The facility provides state health department materials and ensures the patient receives appropriate prescriptions. This applies to patients discharged after inpatient behavioral health care under an emergency certificate; the materials also address the patient's family, caregivers, and friends. The Louisiana Department of Health creates and publishes the educational materials. The facility provides the materials before or at discharge.