';
Tags Posts tagged with "Mental Health Procedures Act"

Mental Health Procedures Act

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) has released their comments on the proposed rulemaking for the Mental Health Procedures Act. The IRRC summarized the questions and concerns that were submitted by legislators, providers, and stakeholders during the public comment period and made recommendations for clarity. The Department of Human Services (DHS) must consider and respond to the IRRC’s comments and all comments submitted during the comment period as they prepare their final form regulations.

The majority of the comments were in regard to proposed “Section 5100.33. Patient’s access to records and control over release of records,” where commentors voiced concern of potential conflict with existing statutes. The IRRC also responded to the legislative comments from Rep. Doyle Heffley, Republican Chairman of the House Human Services Committee, who emphasized the importance of resolving the questions asked by providers and stakeholders.

Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

The Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the following bulletin that applies to county mental health/intellectual and developmental disability (MH/ID) administrators, base service units (BSU), mental health review officers, county crisis intervention programs, and hospital emergency departments.

The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify the part of the Mental Health Procedures Act (MHPA) referring to the involuntary commitment process under Section 302 and the 120-hour limitation on holding a consumer for involuntary emergency examination and treatment.

If you have any questions, please call 717-772-7900 or contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.