AB 1764: California Health Benefit Review Program: financial impacts.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-05-03
Existing law, until July 1, 2017, requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess, among other things, legislation that proposes to mandate or repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined. Existing law requests the University of California to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on public health, medical, financial, and other impacts of that legislation, as specified.
Existing law requests the University of California to provide the analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, as specified, and to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions by January 1, 2017. Existing law establishes the Health Care Benefits Fund in the State Treasury to effectively support the University of California and its work in implementing these provisions. The California Health Benefit Review Program has been reauthorized since its predecessor was established in 2002.
This bill would additionally request the University of California, commencing July 1, 2017, California to include in its analysis, as part of the financial impacts of the above legislation, relevant data on the impact of coverage or repeal of coverage of the benefit or service on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the 2 subsequent state fiscal years and, if applicable, for the 5 subsequent state fiscal years, as specified.
This bill would make its provisions operative on July 1, 2017, and only if the California Health Benefit Review Program is reauthorized, as specified.
Existing law, until July 1, 2017, requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess, among other things, legislation that proposes to mandate or repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined. Existing law requests the University of California to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on public health, medical, financial, and other impacts of that legislation, as specified.
Existing law requests the University of California to provide the analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, as specified, and to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions by January 1, 2017. Existing law establishes the Health Care Benefits Fund in the State Treasury to effectively support the University of California and its work in implementing these provisions. The California Health Benefit Review Program has been reauthorized since its predecessor was established in 2002.
This bill would additionally request the University of California California, commencing July 1, 2017, to include in its analysis, as part of the financial impacts of the above legislation, relevant data on the impact of coverage or repeal of coverage of the benefit or service on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the 2 subsequent state fiscal years and, if applicable, for the 5 subsequent state fiscal years, as specified.
Existing law, until July 1, 2017, requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess, among other things, legislation that proposes to mandate or repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined. Existing law requests the University of California to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on public health, medical, financial, and other impacts of that legislation, as specified.
Existing law requests the University of California to provide the analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, as specified, and to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions by January 1, 2017. Existing law establishes the Health Care Benefits Fund in the State Treasury to effectively support the University of California and its work in implementing these provisions.
This bill would additionally request the University of California to include in its analysis, as part of the financial impacts of the above legislation, relevant data on the impact of coverage or repeal of coverage of the benefit or service on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the 2 subsequent state fiscal years and, if applicable, for the 5 subsequent state fiscal years, as specified.
Existing law, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Demonstration Project Act of 2002, known as Lauras Law, until January 1, 2017, grants each county the authority to offer certain assisted outpatient treatment services for its residents by adopting a resolution or through the county budget process and by making a finding that no mental health program, as specified, may be reduced as a result of implementation. Under that law, participating counties are required to offer prescribed assisted outpatient treatment services, including, among other things, a service planning and delivery process and a mental health personal services coordinator, as specified. Existing law authorizes participating counties to pay for the services provided from moneys distributed to the counties from various continuously appropriated funds, including the Mental Health Services Fund when included in a county plan, as specified.
Existing law authorizes designated persons to request the county behavioral health director to file a petition in the superior court for an order for assisted outpatient treatment, for an initial period not to exceed 6 months, for a person who meets specified criteria. Existing law requires the county behavioral health director to investigate the appropriateness of filing the petition. Existing law also provides specified rights to a person who is the subject of the petition. Existing law requires participating counties to also offer the services described above on a voluntary basis.
This bill would authorize participating counties to agree to act jointly to offer, or to contract with each other to offer, assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to these provisions, subject to the approval of the State Department of Health Care Services. The bill would provide that the agreement may include all or a portion of those services and would require a county that is a party to the agreement to separately offer required services that are not included in the agreement.
Existing law, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Demonstration Project Act of 2002, known as Lauras Law, until January 1, 2017, grants each county the authority to offer certain assisted outpatient treatment services for its residents by adopting a resolution or through the county budget process and by making a finding that no mental health program, as specified, may be reduced as a result of implementation. Under that law, participating counties are required to provide offer prescribed assisted outpatient treatment services, including including, among other things, a service planning and delivery process, that are client-directed and employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles. process and a mental health personal services coordinator, as specified. Existing law authorizes participating counties to pay for the services provided from moneys distributed to the counties from various continuously appropriated funds, including the Mental Health Services Fund when included in a county plan, as specified.
Existing law authorizes designated persons to request the county behavioral health director to file a petition in the superior court for an order for assisted outpatient treatment, for an initial period not to exceed 6 months, for a person who meets specified criteria. Existing law requires the county behavioral health director to investigate the appropriateness of filing the petition. Existing law also provides specified rights to a person who is the subject of the petition. Existing law requires participating counties to also offer the services described above on a voluntary basis.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
This bill would authorize participating counties to agree to act jointly to offer, or to contract with each other to offer, assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to these provisions, subject to the approval of the State Department of Health Care Services. The bill would provide that the agreement may include all or a portion of those services and would require a county that is a party to the agreement to separately offer required services that are not included in the agreement.
Existing law, the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Demonstration Project Act of 2002, known as Lauras Law, until January 1, 2017, grants each county the authority to offer certain assisted outpatient treatment services for its residents by adopting a resolution or through the county budget process and by making a finding that no mental health program, as specified, may be reduced as a result of implementation. Under that law, participating counties are required to provide prescribed assisted outpatient services, including a service planning and delivery process, that are client-directed and employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles. Existing law authorizes participating counties to pay for the services provided from moneys distributed to the counties from various continuously appropriated funds, including the Mental Health Services Fund when included in a county plan, as specified.
Existing law authorizes designated persons to request the county behavioral health director to file a petition in the superior court for an order for assisted outpatient treatment, for an initial period not to exceed 6 months, for a person who meets specified criteria. Existing law requires the county behavioral health director to investigate the appropriateness of filing the petition. Existing law also provides specified rights to a person who is the subject of the petition.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
(a)The Legislature hereby requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (d), and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (e), and to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on the following:
(1)Public health impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The impact on the health of the community, including the reduction of communicable disease and the benefits of prevention such as those provided by childhood immunizations and prenatal care.
(B)The impact on the health of the community, including diseases and conditions where disparities in outcomes associated with the social determinants of health as well as gender, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity are established in peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature.
(C)The extent to which the benefit or service reduces premature death and the economic loss associated with disease.
(2)Medical impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally recognized by the medical community as being effective in the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a condition or disease, as demonstrated by a review of scientific and peer-reviewed medical literature.
(B)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally available and utilized by treating physicians.
(C)The contribution of the benefit or service to the health status of the population, including the results of any research demonstrating the efficacy of the benefit or service compared to alternatives, including not providing the benefit or service.
(D)The extent to which mandating or repealing the benefits or services would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(3)Financial impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the benefit or cost of the benefit or service.
(B)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase the utilization of the benefit or service, or will be a substitute for, or affect the cost of, alternative benefits or services.
(C)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the administrative expenses of health care service plans and health insurers and the premium and expenses of subscribers, enrollees, and policyholders.
(D)The impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on the total cost of health care.
(E)Commencing July 1, 2017, the The impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the following periods:
(i)The two subsequent state fiscal years.
(ii)If applicable, the five subsequent state fiscal years through a longer-range estimate.
(F)The potential cost or savings to the private sector, including the impact on small employers as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (l) of Section 1357, the Public Employees Retirement System, other retirement systems funded by the state or by a local government, individuals purchasing individual health insurance, and publicly funded state health insurance programs, including the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program.
(G)The extent to which costs resulting from lack of coverage or repeal of coverage are or would be shifted to other payers, including both public and private entities.
(H)The extent to which mandating or repealing the proposed benefit or service would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(I)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally utilized by a significant portion of the population.
(J)The extent to which health care coverage for the benefit or service is already generally available.
(K)The level of public demand for health care coverage for the benefit or service, including the level of interest of collective bargaining agents in negotiating privately for inclusion of this coverage in group contracts, and the extent to which the mandated benefit or service is covered by self-funded employer groups.
(L)In assessing and preparing a written analysis of the financial impact of legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service pursuant to this paragraph, the Legislature requests the University of California to use a certified actuary or other person with relevant knowledge and expertise to determine the financial impact.
(4)The impact on essential health benefits, as defined in Section 1367.005 of this code and Section 10112.27 of the Insurance Code, and the impact on the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(b)The Legislature further requests that the California Health Benefit Review Program assess legislation that impacts health insurance benefit design, cost sharing, premiums, and other health insurance topics.
(c)The Legislature requests that the University of California provide every analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature not later than 60 days, or in a manner and pursuant to a timeline agreed to by the Legislature and the California Health Benefit Review Program, after receiving a request made pursuant to Section 127661. In addition, the Legislature requests that the university post every analysis on the Internet and make every analysis available to the public upon request.
(d)As used in this section, legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service means a proposed statute that requires a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, to do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
(e)As used in this section, legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service means a proposed statute that, if enacted, would become operative on or after January 1, 2008, and would repeal an existing requirement that a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
SEC. 2.This act shall become operative on July 1, 2017, and shall become operative only if the dates on which Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 127660) of Part 2 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code becomes inoperative and is repealed are deleted or extended.
(a)The Legislature hereby requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (d), and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (e), and to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on the following:
(1)Public health impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The impact on the health of the community, including the reduction of communicable disease and the benefits of prevention such as those provided by childhood immunizations and prenatal care.
(B)The impact on the health of the community, including diseases and conditions where disparities in outcomes associated with the social determinants of health as well as gender, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity are established in peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature.
(C)The extent to which the benefit or service reduces premature death and the economic loss associated with disease.
(2)Medical impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally recognized by the medical community as being effective in the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a condition or disease, as demonstrated by a review of scientific and peer-reviewed medical literature.
(B)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally available and utilized by treating physicians.
(C)The contribution of the benefit or service to the health status of the population, including the results of any research demonstrating the efficacy of the benefit or service compared to alternatives, including not providing the benefit or service.
(D)The extent to which mandating or repealing the benefits or services would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(3)Financial impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the benefit or cost of the benefit or service.
(B)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase the utilization of the benefit or service, or will be a substitute for, or affect the cost of, alternative benefits or services.
(C)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the administrative expenses of health care service plans and health insurers and the premium and expenses of subscribers, enrollees, and policyholders.
(D)The impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on the total cost of health care.
(E)The Commencing July 1, 2017, the impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the following periods:
(i)The two subsequent state fiscal years.
(ii)If applicable, the five subsequent state fiscal years through a longer-range estimate.
(F)The potential cost or savings to the private sector, including the impact on small employers as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (l) of Section 1357, the Public Employees Retirement System, other retirement systems funded by the state or by a local government, individuals purchasing individual health insurance, and publicly funded state health insurance programs, including the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program.
(G)The extent to which costs resulting from lack of coverage or repeal of coverage are or would be shifted to other payers, including both public and private entities.
(H)The extent to which mandating or repealing the proposed benefit or service would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(I)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally utilized by a significant portion of the population.
(J)The extent to which health care coverage for the benefit or service is already generally available.
(K)The level of public demand for health care coverage for the benefit or service, including the level of interest of collective bargaining agents in negotiating privately for inclusion of this coverage in group contracts, and the extent to which the mandated benefit or service is covered by self-funded employer groups.
(L)In assessing and preparing a written analysis of the financial impact of legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service pursuant to this paragraph, the Legislature requests the University of California to use a certified actuary or other person with relevant knowledge and expertise to determine the financial impact.
(4)The impact on essential health benefits, as defined in Section 1367.005 of this code and Section 10112.27 of the Insurance Code, and the impact on the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(b)The Legislature further requests that the California Health Benefit Review Program assess legislation that impacts health insurance benefit design, cost sharing, premiums, and other health insurance topics.
(c)The Legislature requests that the University of California provide every analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature not later than 60 days, or in a manner and pursuant to a timeline agreed to by the Legislature and the California Health Benefit Review Program, after receiving a request made pursuant to Section 127661. In addition, the Legislature requests that the university post every analysis on the Internet and make every analysis available to the public upon request.
(d)As used in this section, legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service means a proposed statute that requires a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, to do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
(e)As used in this section, legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service means a proposed statute that, if enacted, would become operative on or after January 1, 2008, and would repeal an existing requirement that a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
(a)The Legislature hereby requests the University of California to establish the California Health Benefit Review Program to assess legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (d), and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service, as defined in subdivision (e), and to prepare a written analysis with relevant data on the following:
(1)Public health impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The impact on the health of the community, including the reduction of communicable disease and the benefits of prevention such as those provided by childhood immunizations and prenatal care.
(B)The impact on the health of the community, including diseases and conditions where disparities in outcomes associated with the social determinants of health as well as gender, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity are established in peer-reviewed scientific and medical literature.
(C)The extent to which the benefit or service reduces premature death and the economic loss associated with disease.
(2)Medical impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally recognized by the medical community as being effective in the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a condition or disease, as demonstrated by a review of scientific and peer-reviewed medical literature.
(B)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally available and utilized by treating physicians.
(C)The contribution of the benefit or service to the health status of the population, including the results of any research demonstrating the efficacy of the benefit or service compared to alternatives, including not providing the benefit or service.
(D)The extent to which mandating or repealing the benefits or services would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(3)Financial impacts, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the benefit or cost of the benefit or service.
(B)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase the utilization of the benefit or service, or will be a substitute for, or affect the cost of, alternative benefits or services.
(C)The extent to which the coverage or repeal of coverage will increase or decrease the administrative expenses of health care service plans and health insurers and the premium and expenses of subscribers, enrollees, and policyholders.
(D)The impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on the total cost of health care.
(E)The impact of this coverage or repeal of coverage on anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the following periods:
(i)The two subsequent state fiscal years.
(ii)If applicable, the five subsequent state fiscal years through a longer-range estimate.
(E)
(F)The potential cost or savings to the private sector, including the impact on small employers as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (l) of Section 1357, the Public Employees Retirement System, other retirement systems funded by the state or by a local government, individuals purchasing individual health insurance, and publicly funded state health insurance programs, including the Medi-Cal program and the Healthy Families Program.
(F)
(G)The extent to which costs resulting from lack of coverage or repeal of coverage are or would be shifted to other payers, including both public and private entities.
(G)
(H)The extent to which mandating or repealing the proposed benefit or service would not diminish or eliminate access to currently available health care benefits or services.
(H)
(I)The extent to which the benefit or service is generally utilized by a significant portion of the population.
(I)
(J)The extent to which health care coverage for the benefit or service is already generally available.
(J)
(K)The level of public demand for health care coverage for the benefit or service, including the level of interest of collective bargaining agents in negotiating privately for inclusion of this coverage in group contracts, and the extent to which the mandated benefit or service is covered by self-funded employer groups.
(K)
(L)In assessing and preparing a written analysis of the financial impact of legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service pursuant to this paragraph, the Legislature requests the University of California to use a certified actuary or other person with relevant knowledge and expertise to determine the financial impact.
(4)The impact on essential health benefits, as defined in Section 1367.005 of this code and Section 10112.27 of the Insurance Code, and the impact on the California Health Benefit Exchange.
(b)The Legislature further requests that the California Health Benefit Review Program assess legislation that impacts health insurance benefit design, cost sharing, premiums, and other health insurance topics.
(c)The Legislature requests that the University of California provide every analysis to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature not later than 60 days, or in a manner and pursuant to a timeline agreed to by the Legislature and the California Health Benefit Review Program, after receiving a request made pursuant to Section 127661. In addition, the Legislature requests that the university post every analysis on the Internet and make every analysis available to the public upon request.
(d)As used in this section, legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service means a proposed statute that requires a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, to do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
(e)As used in this section, legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service means a proposed statute that, if enacted, would become operative on or after January 1, 2008, and would repeal an existing requirement that a health care service plan or a health insurer, or both, do any of the following:
(1)Permit a person insured or covered under the policy or contract to obtain health care treatment or services from a particular type of health care provider.
(2)Offer or provide coverage for the screening, diagnosis, or treatment of a particular disease or condition.
(3)Offer or provide coverage of a particular type of health care treatment or service, or of medical equipment, medical supplies, or drugs used in connection with a health care treatment or service.
SECTION 1.Section 5348 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:5348.(a)For purposes of subdivision (e) of Section 5346, a county that chooses to provide assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article shall offer assisted outpatient treatment services including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Community-based, mobile, multidisciplinary, highly trained mental health teams that use high staff-to-client ratios of no more than 10 clients per team member for those subject to court-ordered services pursuant to Section 5346.
(2)A service planning and delivery process that includes the following:
(A)Determination of the numbers of persons to be served and the programs and services that will be provided to meet their needs. The local director of mental health shall consult with the sheriff, the police chief, the probation officer, the mental health board, contract agencies, and family, client, ethnic, and citizen constituency groups as determined by the director.
(B)Plans for services, including outreach to families whose severely mentally ill adult is living with them, design of mental health services, coordination and access to medications, psychiatric and psychological services, substance abuse services, supportive housing or other housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and veterans services. Plans shall also contain evaluation strategies, which shall consider cultural, linguistic, gender, age, and special needs of minorities and those based on any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code in the target populations. Provision shall be made for staff with the cultural background and linguistic skills necessary to remove barriers to mental health services as a result of having limited-English-speaking ability and cultural differences. Recipients of outreach services may include families, the public, primary care physicians, and others who are likely to come into contact with individuals who may be suffering from an untreated severe mental illness who would be likely to become homeless if the illness continued to be untreated for a substantial period of time. Outreach to adults may include adults voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized as a result of a severe mental illness.
(C)Provision for services to meet the needs of persons who are physically disabled.
(D)Provision for services to meet the special needs of older adults.
(E)Provision for family support and consultation services, parenting support and consultation services, and peer support or self-help group support, where appropriate.
(F)Provision for services to be client-directed and that employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles.
(G)Provision for psychiatric and psychological services that are integrated with other services and for psychiatric and psychological collaboration in overall service planning.
(H)Provision for services specifically directed to seriously mentally ill young adults 25 years of age or younger who are homeless or at significant risk of becoming homeless. These provisions may include continuation of services that still would be received through other funds had eligibility not been terminated as a result of age.
(I)Services reflecting special needs of women from diverse cultural backgrounds, including supportive housing that accepts children, personal services coordinator therapeutic treatment, and substance treatment programs that address gender-specific trauma and abuse in the lives of persons with mental illness, and vocational rehabilitation programs that offer job training programs free of gender bias and sensitive to the needs of women.
(J)Provision for housing for clients that is immediate, transitional, permanent, or all of these.
(K)Provision for clients who have been suffering from an untreated severe mental illness for less than one year, and who do not require the full range of services, but are at risk of becoming homeless unless a comprehensive individual and family support services plan is implemented. These clients shall be served in a manner that is designed to meet their needs.
(3)Each client shall have a clearly designated mental health personal services coordinator who may be part of a multidisciplinary treatment team who is responsible for providing or assuring needed services. Responsibilities include complete assessment of the clients needs, development of the clients personal services plan, linkage with all appropriate community services, monitoring of the quality and followthrough of services, and necessary advocacy to ensure each client receives those services that are agreed to in the personal services plan. Each client shall participate in the development of his or her personal services plan, and responsible staff shall consult with the designated conservator, if one has been appointed, and, with the consent of the client, shall consult with the family and other significant persons as appropriate.
(4)The individual personal services plan shall ensure that persons subject to assisted outpatient treatment programs receive age-appropriate, gender-appropriate, and culturally appropriate services, to the extent feasible, that are designed to enable recipients to:
(A)Live in the most independent, least restrictive housing feasible in the local community, and, for clients with children, to live in a supportive housing environment that strives for reunification with their children or assists clients in maintaining custody of their children as is appropriate.
(B)Engage in the highest level of work or productive activity appropriate to their abilities and experience.
(C)Create and maintain a support system consisting of friends, family, and participation in community activities.
(D)Access an appropriate level of academic education or vocational training.
(E)Obtain an adequate income.
(F)Self-manage their illnesses and exert as much control as possible over both the day-to-day and long-term decisions that affect their lives.
(G)Access necessary physical health care and maintain the best possible physical health.
(H)Reduce or eliminate serious antisocial or criminal behavior, and thereby reduce or eliminate their contact with the criminal justice system.
(I)Reduce or eliminate the distress caused by the symptoms of mental illness.
(J)Have freedom from dangerous addictive substances.
(5)The individual personal services plan shall describe the service array that meets the requirements of paragraph (4), and to the extent applicable to the individual, the requirements of paragraph (2).
(b)A county that provides assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article also shall offer the same services on a voluntary basis.
(c)Counties that authorize the application of this article pursuant to Section 5349 may agree to act jointly to offer, or to contract with each other to offer, assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article, subject to the approval of the State Department of Health Care Services. The agreement may include all or a portion of the assisted outpatient treatment services offered pursuant to this article. A county that is a party to the agreement shall separately offer assisted outpatient treatment services that are not included in the agreement, in accordance with this article.
(d)Involuntary medication shall not be allowed absent a separate order by the court pursuant to Sections 5332 to 5336, inclusive.
(e)A county that operates an assisted outpatient treatment program pursuant to this article shall provide data to the State Department of Health Care Services and, based on the data, the department shall report to the Legislature on or before May 1 of each year in which the county provides services pursuant to this article. The report shall include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the strategies employed by each program operated pursuant to this article in reducing homelessness and hospitalization of persons in the program and in reducing involvement with local law enforcement by persons in the program. The evaluation and report shall also include any other measures identified by the department regarding persons in the program and all of the following, based on information that is available:
(1)The number of persons served by the program and, of those, the number who are able to maintain housing and the number who maintain contact with the treatment system.
(2)The number of persons in the program with contacts with local law enforcement, and the extent to which local and state incarceration of persons in the program has been reduced or avoided.
(3)The number of persons in the program participating in employment services programs, including competitive employment.
(4)The days of hospitalization of persons in the program that have been reduced or avoided.
(5)Adherence to prescribed treatment by persons in the program.
(6)Other indicators of successful engagement, if any, by persons in the program.
(7)Victimization of persons in the program.
(8)Violent behavior of persons in the program.
(9)Substance abuse by persons in the program.
(10)Type, intensity, and frequency of treatment of persons in the program.
(11)Extent to which enforcement mechanisms are used by the program, when applicable.
(12)Social functioning of persons in the program.
(13)Skills in independent living of persons in the program.
(14)Satisfaction with program services both by those receiving them and by their families, when relevant.
(a)For purposes of subdivision (e) of Section 5346, a county that chooses to provide assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article shall offer assisted outpatient treatment services including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1)Community-based, mobile, multidisciplinary, highly trained mental health teams that use high staff-to-client ratios of no more than 10 clients per team member for those subject to court-ordered services pursuant to Section 5346.
(2)A service planning and delivery process that includes the following:
(A)Determination of the numbers of persons to be served and the programs and services that will be provided to meet their needs. The local director of mental health shall consult with the sheriff, the police chief, the probation officer, the mental health board, contract agencies, and family, client, ethnic, and citizen constituency groups as determined by the director.
(B)Plans for services, including outreach to families whose severely mentally ill adult is living with them, design of mental health services, coordination and access to medications, psychiatric and psychological services, substance abuse services, supportive housing or other housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and veterans services. Plans shall also contain evaluation strategies, which shall consider cultural, linguistic, gender, age, and special needs of minorities and those based on any characteristic listed or defined in Section 11135 of the Government Code in the target populations. Provision shall be made for staff with the cultural background and linguistic skills necessary to remove barriers to mental health services as a result of having limited-English-speaking ability and cultural differences. Recipients of outreach services may include families, the public, primary care physicians, and others who are likely to come into contact with individuals who may be suffering from an untreated severe mental illness who would be likely to become homeless if the illness continued to be untreated for a substantial period of time. Outreach to adults may include adults voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized as a result of a severe mental illness.
(C)Provision for services to meet the needs of persons who are physically disabled.
(D)Provision for services to meet the special needs of older adults.
(E)Provision for family support and consultation services, parenting support and consultation services, and peer support or self-help group support, where appropriate.
(F)Provision for services to be client-directed and that employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles.
(G)Provision for psychiatric and psychological services that are integrated with other services and for psychiatric and psychological collaboration in overall service planning.
(H)Provision for services specifically directed to seriously mentally ill young adults 25 years of age or younger who are homeless or at significant risk of becoming homeless. These provisions may include continuation of services that still would be received through other funds had eligibility not been terminated as a result of age.
(I)Services reflecting special needs of women from diverse cultural backgrounds, including supportive housing that accepts children, personal services coordinator therapeutic treatment, and substance treatment programs that address gender-specific trauma and abuse in the lives of persons with mental illness, and vocational rehabilitation programs that offer job training programs free of gender bias and sensitive to the needs of women.
(J)Provision for housing for clients that is immediate, transitional, permanent, or all of these.
(K)Provision for clients who have been suffering from an untreated severe mental illness for less than one year, and who do not require the full range of services, but are at risk of becoming homeless unless a comprehensive individual and family support services plan is implemented. These clients shall be served in a manner that is designed to meet their needs.
(3)Each client shall have a clearly designated mental health personal services coordinator who may be part of a multidisciplinary treatment team who is responsible for providing or assuring needed services. Responsibilities include complete assessment of the clients needs, development of the clients personal services plan, linkage with all appropriate community services, monitoring of the quality and followthrough of services, and necessary advocacy to ensure each client receives those services that are agreed to in the personal services plan. Each client shall participate in the development of his or her personal services plan, and responsible staff shall consult with the designated conservator, if one has been appointed, and, with the consent of the client, shall consult with the family and other significant persons as appropriate.
(4)The individual personal services plan shall ensure that persons subject to assisted outpatient treatment programs receive age-appropriate, gender-appropriate, and culturally appropriate services, to the extent feasible, that are designed to enable recipients to:
(A)Live in the most independent, least restrictive housing feasible in the local community, and, for clients with children, to live in a supportive housing environment that strives for reunification with their children or assists clients in maintaining custody of their children as is appropriate.
(B)Engage in the highest level of work or productive activity appropriate to their abilities and experience.
(C)Create and maintain a support system consisting of friends, family, and participation in community activities.
(D)Access an appropriate level of academic education or vocational training.
(E)Obtain an adequate income.
(F)Self-manage their illnesses and exert as much control as possible over both the day-to-day and long-term decisions that affect their lives.
(G)Access necessary physical health care and maintain the best possible physical health.
(H)Reduce or eliminate serious antisocial or criminal behavior, and thereby reduce or eliminate their contact with the criminal justice system.
(I)Reduce or eliminate the distress caused by the symptoms of mental illness.
(J)Have freedom from dangerous addictive substances.
(5)The individual personal services plan shall describe the service array that meets the requirements of paragraph (4), and to the extent applicable to the individual, the requirements of paragraph (2).
(b)A county that provides assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article also shall offer the same services on a voluntary basis.
(c)Counties that authorize the application of this article pursuant to Section 5349 may agree to act jointly to offer, or to contract with each other to offer, assisted outpatient treatment services pursuant to this article, subject to the approval of the State Department of Health Care Services. The agreement may include all or a portion of the assisted outpatient treatment services offered pursuant to this article. A county that is a party to the agreement shall separately offer assisted outpatient treatment services that are not included in the agreement, in accordance with this article.
(c)
(d)Involuntary medication shall not be allowed absent a separate order by the court pursuant to Sections 5332 to 5336, inclusive.
(d)
(e)A county that operates an assisted outpatient treatment program pursuant to this article shall provide data to the State Department of Health Care Services and, based on the data, the department shall report to the Legislature on or before May 1 of each year in which the county provides services pursuant to this article. The report shall include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the strategies employed by each program operated pursuant to this article in reducing homelessness and hospitalization of persons in the program and in reducing involvement with local law enforcement by persons in the program. The evaluation and report shall also include any other measures identified by the department regarding persons in the program and all of the following, based on information that is available:
(1)The number of persons served by the program and, of those, the number who are able to maintain housing and the number who maintain contact with the treatment system.
(2)The number of persons in the program with contacts with local law enforcement, and the extent to which local and state incarceration of persons in the program has been reduced or avoided.
(3)The number of persons in the program participating in employment services programs, including competitive employment.
(4)The days of hospitalization of persons in the program that have been reduced or avoided.
(5)Adherence to prescribed treatment by persons in the program.
(6)Other indicators of successful engagement, if any, by persons in the program.
(7)Victimization of persons in the program.
(8)Violent behavior of persons in the program.
(9)Substance abuse by persons in the program.
(10)Type, intensity, and frequency of treatment of persons in the program.
(11)Extent to which enforcement mechanisms are used by the program, when applicable.
(12)Social functioning of persons in the program.
(13)Skills in independent living of persons in the program.
(14)Satisfaction with program services both by those receiving them and by their families, when relevant.
SECTION 1.Section 5346 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:5346.(a)In any county in which services are available as provided in Section 5348, a court may order a person who is the subject of a petition filed pursuant to this section to obtain assisted outpatient treatment if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the facts stated in the verified petition filed in accordance with this section are true and establish that all of the requisite criteria set forth in this section are met, including, but not limited to, each of the following:
(1)The person is 18 years of age or older.
(2)The person is suffering from a mental illness as defined in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3.
(3)There has been a clinical determination that the person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision.
(4)The person has a history of lack of compliance with treatment for his or her mental illness, in that at least one of the following is true:
(A)The persons mental illness has, at least twice within the last 36 months, been a substantial factor in necessitating hospitalization, or receipt of services in a forensic or other mental health unit of a state correctional facility or local correctional facility, not including any period during which the person was hospitalized or incarcerated immediately preceding the filing of the petition.
(B)The persons mental illness has resulted in one or more acts of serious and violent behavior toward himself or herself or another, or threats, or attempts to cause serious physical harm to himself or herself or another within the last 48 months, not including any period in which the person was hospitalized or incarcerated immediately preceding the filing of the petition.
(5)The person has been offered an opportunity to participate in a treatment plan by the director of the local mental health department, or his or her designee, provided the treatment plan includes all of the services described in Section 5348, and the person continues to fail to engage in treatment.
(6)The persons condition is substantially deteriorating.
(7)Participation in the assisted outpatient treatment program would be the least restrictive placement necessary to ensure the persons recovery and stability.
(8)In view of the persons treatment history and current behavior, the person is in need of assisted outpatient treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would be likely to result in grave disability or serious harm to himself or herself, or to others, as defined in Section 5150.
(9)It is likely that the person will benefit from assisted outpatient treatment.
(b)(1)A petition for an order authorizing assisted outpatient treatment may be filed by the county behavioral health director, or his or her designee, in the superior court in the county in which the person who is the subject of the petition is present or reasonably believed to be present.
(2)A request may be made only by any of the following persons to the county mental health department for the filing of a petition to obtain an order authorizing assisted outpatient treatment:
(A)Any person 18 years of age or older with whom the person who is the subject of the petition resides.
(B)Any person who is the parent, spouse, or sibling or child 18 years of age or older of the person who is the subject of the petition.
(C)The director of any public or private agency, treatment facility, charitable organization, or licensed residential care facility providing mental health services to the person who is the subject of the petition in whose institution the subject of the petition resides.
(D)The director of a hospital in which the person who is the subject of the petition is hospitalized.
(E)A licensed mental health treatment provider who is either supervising the treatment of, or treating for a mental illness, the person who is the subject of the petition.
(F)A peace officer, parole officer, or probation officer assigned to supervise the person who is the subject of the petition.
(3)Upon receiving a request pursuant to paragraph (2), the county behavioral health director shall conduct an investigation into the appropriateness of the filing of the petition. The director shall file the petition only if he or she determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that all the necessary elements to sustain the petition can be proven in a court of law by clear and convincing evidence.
(4)The petition shall state all of the following:
(A)Each of the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment as set forth in subdivision (a).
(B)Facts that support the petitioners belief that the person who is the subject of the petition meets each criterion, provided that the hearing on the petition shall be limited to the stated facts in the verified petition, and the petition contains all the grounds on which the petition is based, in order to ensure adequate notice to the person who is the subject of the petition and his or her counsel.
(C)That the person who is the subject of the petition is present, or is reasonably believed to be present, within the county where the petition is filed.
(D)That the person who is the subject of the petition has the right to be represented by counsel in all stages of the proceeding under the petition, in accordance with subdivision (c).
(5)The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit of a licensed mental health treatment provider designated by the local mental health director who shall state, if applicable, either of the following:
(A)That the licensed mental health treatment provider has personally examined the person who is the subject of the petition no more than 10 days prior to the submission of the petition, the facts and reasons why the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria in subdivision (a), that the licensed mental health treatment provider recommends assisted outpatient treatment for the person who is the subject of the petition, and that the licensed mental health treatment provider is willing and able to testify at the hearing on the petition.
(B)That no more than 10 days prior to the filing of the petition, the licensed mental health treatment provider, or his or her designee, has made appropriate attempts to elicit the cooperation of the person who is the subject of the petition, but has not been successful in persuading that person to submit to an examination, that the licensed mental health treatment provider has reason to believe that the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and that the licensed mental health treatment provider is willing and able to examine the person who is the subject of the petition and testify at the hearing on the petition.
(c)The person who is the subject of the petition shall have the right to be represented by counsel at all stages of a proceeding commenced under this section. If the person so elects, the court shall immediately appoint the public defender or other attorney to assist the person in all stages of the proceedings. The person shall pay the cost of the legal services if he or she is able.
(d)(1)Upon receipt by the court of a petition submitted pursuant to subdivision (b), the court shall fix the date for a hearing at a time not later than five days from the date the petition is received by the court, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The petitioner shall promptly cause service of a copy of the petition, together with written notice of the hearing date, to be made personally on the person who is the subject of the petition, and shall send a copy of the petition and notice to the county office of patient rights, and to the current health care provider appointed for the person who is the subject of the petition, if that provider is known to the petitioner. Continuances shall be permitted only for good cause shown. In granting continuances, the court shall consider the need for further examination by a physician or the potential need to provide expeditiously assisted outpatient treatment. Upon the hearing date, or upon any other date or dates to which the proceeding may be continued, the court shall hear testimony. If it is deemed advisable by the court, and if the person who is the subject of the petition is available and has received notice pursuant to this section, the court may examine in or out of court the person who is the subject of the petition who is alleged to be in need of assisted outpatient treatment. If the person who is the subject of the petition does not appear at the hearing, and appropriate attempts to elicit the attendance of the person have failed, the court may conduct the hearing in the persons absence. If the hearing is conducted without the person present, the court shall set forth the factual basis for conducting the hearing without the persons presence.
(2)The court shall not order assisted outpatient treatment unless an examining licensed mental health treatment provider, who has personally examined, and has reviewed the available treatment history of, the person who is the subject of the petition within the time period commencing 10 days before the filing of the petition, testifies in person at the hearing.
(3)If the person who is the subject of the petition has refused to be examined by a licensed mental health treatment provider, the court may request that the person consent to an examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider appointed by the court. If the person who is the subject of the petition does not consent and the court finds reasonable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition are true, the court may order any person designated under Section 5150 to take into custody the person who is the subject of the petition and transport him or her, or cause him or her to be transported, to a hospital for examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider as soon as is practicable. Detention of the person who is the subject of the petition under the order may not exceed 72 hours. If the examination is performed by another licensed mental health treatment provider, the examining licensed mental health treatment provider may consult with the licensed mental health treatment provider whose affirmation or affidavit accompanied the petition regarding the issues of whether the allegations in the petition are true and whether the person meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
(4)The person who is the subject of the petition shall have all of the following rights:
(A)To adequate notice of the hearings to the person who is the subject of the petition, as well as to parties designated by the person who is the subject of the petition.
(B)To receive a copy of the court-ordered evaluation.
(C)To counsel. If the person has not retained counsel, the court shall appoint a public defender.
(D)To be informed of his or her right to judicial review by habeas corpus.
(E)To be present at the hearing unless he or she waives the right to be present.
(F)To present evidence.
(G)To call witnesses on his or her behalf.
(H)To cross-examine witnesses.
(I)To appeal decisions, and to be informed of his or her right to appeal.
(5)(A)If after hearing all relevant evidence, the court finds that the person who is the subject of the petition does not meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, the court shall dismiss the petition.
(B)If after hearing all relevant evidence, the court finds that the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and there is no appropriate and feasible less restrictive alternative, the court may order the person who is the subject of the petition to receive assisted outpatient treatment for an initial period not to exceed six months. In fashioning the order, the court shall specify that the proposed treatment is the least restrictive treatment appropriate and feasible for the person who is the subject of the petition. The order shall state the categories of assisted outpatient treatment, as set forth in Section 5348, that the person who is the subject of the petition is to receive, and the court may not order treatment that has not been recommended by the examining licensed mental health treatment provider and included in the written treatment plan for assisted outpatient treatment as required by subdivision (e). If the person has executed an advance health care directive pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 4650) of Part 1 of Division 4.7 of the Probate Code, any directions included in the advance health care directive shall be considered in formulating the written treatment plan.
(6)If the person who is the subject of a petition for an order for assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) refuses to participate in the assisted outpatient treatment program, the court may order the person to meet with the assisted outpatient treatment team designated by the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program. The treatment team shall attempt to gain the persons cooperation with treatment ordered by the court. The person may be subject to a 72-hour hold pursuant to subdivision (f) only after the treatment team has attempted to gain the persons cooperation with treatment ordered by the court, and has been unable to do so.
(e)Assisted outpatient treatment shall not be ordered unless the licensed mental health treatment provider recommending assisted outpatient treatment to the court has submitted to the court a written treatment plan that includes services as set forth in Section 5348, and the court finds, in consultation with the county behavioral health director, or his or her designee, all of the following:
(1)That the services are available from the county, or a provider approved by the county, for the duration of the court order.
(2)That the services have been offered to the person by the local director of mental health, or his or her designee, and the person has been given an opportunity to participate on a voluntary basis, and the person has failed to engage in, or has refused, treatment.
(3)That all of the elements of the petition required by this article have been met.
(4)That the treatment plan will be delivered to the county behavioral health director, or to his or her appropriate designee.
(f)If, in the clinical judgment of a licensed mental health treatment provider, the person who is the subject of the petition has failed or has refused to comply with the treatment ordered by the court, and, in the clinical judgment of the licensed mental health treatment provider, efforts were made to solicit compliance, and, in the clinical judgment of the licensed mental health treatment provider, the person may be in need of involuntary admission to a hospital for evaluation, the provider may request that persons designated under Section 5150 take into custody the person who is the subject of the petition and transport him or her, or cause him or her to be transported, to a hospital, to be held up to 72 hours for examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider to determine if the person is in need of treatment pursuant to Section 5150. Any continued involuntary retention in a hospital beyond the initial 72-hour period shall be pursuant to Section 5150. If at any time during the 72-hour period the person is determined not to meet the criteria of Section 5150, and does not agree to stay in the hospital as a voluntary patient, he or she shall be released and any subsequent involuntary detention in a hospital shall be pursuant to Section 5150. Failure to comply with an order of assisted outpatient treatment alone may not be grounds for involuntary civil commitment or a finding that the person who is the subject of the petition is in contempt of court.
(g)If the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program determines that the condition of the patient requires further assisted outpatient treatment, the director shall apply to the court, prior to the expiration of the period of the initial assisted outpatient treatment order, for an order authorizing continued assisted outpatient treatment for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date of the order. The procedures for obtaining any order pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive. The period for further involuntary outpatient treatment authorized by any subsequent order under this subdivision may not exceed 180 days from the date of the order.
(h)At intervals of not less than 60 days during an assisted outpatient treatment order, the director of the outpatient treatment program shall file an affidavit with the court that ordered the outpatient treatment affirming that the person who is the subject of the order continues to meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment. At these times, the person who is the subject of the order shall have the right to a hearing on whether or not he or she still meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment if he or she disagrees with the directors affidavit. The burden of proof shall be on the director.
(i)During each 60-day period specified in subdivision (h), if the person who is the subject of the order believes that he or she is being wrongfully retained in the assisted outpatient treatment program against his or her wishes, he or she may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, thus requiring the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program to prove that the person who is the subject of the order continues to meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
(j)Any person ordered to undergo assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to this article, who was not present at the hearing at which the order was issued, may immediately petition the court for a writ of habeas corpus. Treatment under the order for assisted outpatient treatment may not commence until the resolution of that petition.
(a)In any county in which services are available as provided in Section 5348, a court may order a person who is the subject of a petition filed pursuant to this section to obtain assisted outpatient treatment if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the facts stated in the verified petition filed in accordance with this section are true and establish that all of the requisite criteria set forth in this section are met, including, but not limited to, each of the following:
(1)The person is 18 years of age or older.
(2)The person is suffering from a mental illness as defined in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3.
(3)There has been a clinical determination that the person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision.
(4)The person has a history of lack of compliance with treatment for his or her mental illness, in that at least one of the following is true:
(A)The persons mental illness has, at least twice within the last 36 months, been a substantial factor in necessitating hospitalization, or receipt of services in a forensic or other mental health unit of a state correctional facility or local correctional facility, not including any period during which the person was hospitalized or incarcerated immediately preceding the filing of the petition.
(B)The persons mental illness has resulted in one or more acts of serious and violent behavior toward himself or herself or another, or threats, or attempts to cause serious physical harm to himself or herself or another within the last 48 months, not including any period in which the person was hospitalized or incarcerated immediately preceding the filing of the petition.
(5)The person has been offered an opportunity to participate in a treatment plan by the director of the local mental health department, or his or her designee, provided the treatment plan includes all of the services described in Section 5348, and the person continues to fail to engage in treatment.
(6)The persons condition is substantially deteriorating.
(7)Participation in the assisted outpatient treatment program would be the least restrictive placement necessary to ensure the persons recovery and stability.
(8)In view of the persons treatment history and current behavior, the person is in need of assisted outpatient treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would be likely to result in grave disability or serious harm to himself or herself, or to others, as defined in Section 5150.
(9)It is likely that the person will benefit from assisted outpatient treatment.
(b)(1)A petition for an order authorizing assisted outpatient treatment may be filed by the county behavioral health director, or his or her designee, in the superior court in the county in which the person who is the subject of the petition is present or reasonably believed to be present.
(2)A request may be made only by any of the following persons to the county mental health department for the filing of a petition to obtain an order authorizing assisted outpatient treatment:
(A)Any person 18 years of age or older with whom the person who is the subject of the petition resides.
(B)Any person who is the parent, spouse, or sibling or child 18 years of age or older of the person who is the subject of the petition.
(C)The director of any public or private agency, treatment facility, charitable organization, or licensed residential care facility providing mental health services to the person who is the subject of the petition in whose institution the subject of the petition resides.
(D)The director of a hospital in which the person who is the subject of the petition is hospitalized.
(E)A licensed mental health treatment provider who is either supervising the treatment of, or treating for a mental illness, the person who is the subject of the petition.
(F)A peace officer, parole officer, or probation officer assigned to supervise the person who is the subject of the petition.
(3)Upon receiving a request pursuant to paragraph (2), the county behavioral health director shall conduct an investigation into the appropriateness of the filing of the petition. The director shall file the petition only if he or she determines that there is a reasonable likelihood that all the necessary elements to sustain the petition can be proven in a court of law by clear and convincing evidence.
(4)The petition shall state all of the following:
(A)Each of the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment as set forth in subdivision (a).
(B)Facts that support the petitioners belief that the person who is the subject of the petition meets each criterion, provided that the hearing on the petition shall be limited to the stated facts in the verified petition, and the petition contains all the grounds on which the petition is based, in order to ensure adequate notice to the person who is the subject of the petition and his or her counsel.
(C)That the person who is the subject of the petition is present, or is reasonably believed to be present, within the county where the petition is filed.
(D)That the person who is the subject of the petition has the right to be represented by counsel in all stages of the proceeding under the petition, in accordance with subdivision (c).
(5)The petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit of a licensed mental health treatment provider designated by the local mental health director who shall state, if applicable, either of the following:
(A)That the licensed mental health treatment provider has personally examined the person who is the subject of the petition no more than 10 days prior to the submission of the petition, the facts and reasons why the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria in subdivision (a), that the licensed mental health treatment provider recommends assisted outpatient treatment for the person who is the subject of the petition, and that the licensed mental health treatment provider is willing and able to testify at the hearing on the petition.
(B)That no more than 10 days prior to the filing of the petition, the licensed mental health treatment provider, or his or her designee, has made appropriate attempts to elicit the cooperation of the person who is the subject of the petition, but has not been successful in persuading that person to submit to an examination, that the licensed mental health treatment provider has reason to believe that the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and that the licensed mental health treatment provider is willing and able to examine the person who is the subject of the petition and testify at the hearing on the petition.
(c)The person who is the subject of the petition shall have the right to be represented by counsel at all stages of a proceeding commenced under this section. If the person so elects, the court shall immediately appoint the public defender or other attorney to assist the person in all stages of the proceedings. The person shall pay the cost of the legal services if he or she is able.
(d)(1)Upon receipt by the court of a petition submitted pursuant to subdivision (b), the court shall fix the date for a hearing at a time not later than five days from the date the petition is received by the court, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The petitioner shall promptly cause service of a copy of the petition, together with written notice of the hearing date, to be made personally on the person who is the subject of the petition, and shall send a copy of the petition and notice to the county office of patient rights, and to the current health care provider appointed for the person who is the subject of the petition, if any such that provider is known to the petitioner. Continuances shall be permitted only for good cause shown. In granting continuances, the court shall consider the need for further examination by a physician or the potential need to provide expeditiously assisted outpatient treatment. Upon the hearing date, or upon any other date or dates to which the proceeding may be continued, the court shall hear testimony. If it is deemed advisable by the court, and if the person who is the subject of the petition is available and has received notice pursuant to this section, the court may examine in or out of court the person who is the subject of the petition who is alleged to be in need of assisted outpatient treatment. If the person who is the subject of the petition does not appear at the hearing, and appropriate attempts to elicit the attendance of the person have failed, the court may conduct the hearing in the persons absence. If the hearing is conducted without the person present, the court shall set forth the factual basis for conducting the hearing without the persons presence.
(2)The court shall not order assisted outpatient treatment unless an examining licensed mental health treatment provider, who has personally examined, and has reviewed the available treatment history of, the person who is the subject of the petition within the time period commencing 10 days before the filing of the petition, testifies in person at the hearing.
(3)If the person who is the subject of the petition has refused to be examined by a licensed mental health treatment provider, the court may request that the person consent to an examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider appointed by the court. If the person who is the subject of the petition does not consent and the court finds reasonable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition are true, the court may order any person designated under Section 5150 to take into custody the person who is the subject of the petition and transport him or her, or cause him or her to be transported, to a hospital for examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider as soon as is practicable. Detention of the person who is the subject of the petition under the order may not exceed 72 hours. If the examination is performed by another licensed mental health treatment provider, the examining licensed mental health treatment provider may consult with the licensed mental health treatment provider whose affirmation or affidavit accompanied the petition regarding the issues of whether the allegations in the petition are true and whether the person meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
(4)The person who is the subject of the petition shall have all of the following rights:
(A)To adequate notice of the hearings to the person who is the subject of the petition, as well as to parties designated by the person who is the subject of the petition.
(B)To receive a copy of the court-ordered evaluation.
(C)To counsel. If the person has not retained counsel, the court shall appoint a public defender.
(D)To be informed of his or her right to judicial review by habeas corpus.
(E)To be present at the hearing unless he or she waives the right to be present.
(F)To present evidence.
(G)To call witnesses on his or her behalf.
(H)To cross-examine witnesses.
(I)To appeal decisions, and to be informed of his or her right to appeal.
(5)(A)If after hearing all relevant evidence, the court finds that the person who is the subject of the petition does not meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, the court shall dismiss the petition.
(B)If after hearing all relevant evidence, the court finds that the person who is the subject of the petition meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment, and there is no appropriate and feasible less restrictive alternative, the court may order the person who is the subject of the petition to receive assisted outpatient treatment for an initial period not to exceed six months. In fashioning the order, the court shall specify that the proposed treatment is the least restrictive treatment appropriate and feasible for the person who is the subject of the petition. The order shall state the categories of assisted outpatient treatment, as set forth in Section 5348, that the person who is the subject of the petition is to receive, and the court may not order treatment that has not been recommended by the examining licensed mental health treatment provider and included in the written treatment plan for assisted outpatient treatment as required by subdivision (e). If the person has executed an advance health care directive pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 4650) of Part 1 of Division 4.7 of the Probate Code, any directions included in the advance health care directive shall be considered in formulating the written treatment plan.
(6)If the person who is the subject of a petition for an order for assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (d) refuses to participate in the assisted outpatient treatment program, the court may order the person to meet with the assisted outpatient treatment team designated by the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program. The treatment team shall attempt to gain the persons cooperation with treatment ordered by the court. The person may be subject to a 72-hour hold pursuant to subdivision (f) only after the treatment team has attempted to gain the persons cooperation with treatment ordered by the court, and has been unable to do so.
(e)Assisted outpatient treatment shall not be ordered unless the licensed mental health treatment provider recommending assisted outpatient treatment to the court has submitted to the court a written treatment plan that includes services as set forth in Section 5348, and the court finds, in consultation with the county behavioral health director, or his or her designee, all of the following:
(1)That the services are available from the county, or a provider approved by the county, for the duration of the court order.
(2)That the services have been offered to the person by the local director of mental health, or his or her designee, and the person has been given an opportunity to participate on a voluntary basis, and the person has failed to engage in, or has refused, treatment.
(3)That all of the elements of the petition required by this article have been met.
(4)That the treatment plan will be delivered to the county behavioral health director, or to his or her appropriate designee.
(f)If, in the clinical judgment of a licensed mental health treatment provider, the person who is the subject of the petition has failed or has refused to comply with the treatment ordered by the court, and, in the clinical judgment of the licensed mental health treatment provider, efforts were made to solicit compliance, and, in the clinical judgment of the licensed mental health treatment provider, the person may be in need of involuntary admission to a hospital for evaluation, the provider may request that persons designated under Section 5150 take into custody the person who is the subject of the petition and transport him or her, or cause him or her to be transported, to a hospital, to be held up to 72 hours for examination by a licensed mental health treatment provider to determine if the person is in need of treatment pursuant to Section 5150. Any continued involuntary retention in a hospital beyond the initial 72-hour period shall be pursuant to Section 5150. If at any time during the 72-hour period the person is determined not to meet the criteria of Section 5150, and does not agree to stay in the hospital as a voluntary patient, he or she shall be released and any subsequent involuntary detention in a hospital shall be pursuant to Section 5150. Failure to comply with an order of assisted outpatient treatment alone may not be grounds for involuntary civil commitment or a finding that the person who is the subject of the petition is in contempt of court.
(g)If the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program determines that the condition of the patient requires further assisted outpatient treatment, the director shall apply to the court, prior to the expiration of the period of the initial assisted outpatient treatment order, for an order authorizing continued assisted outpatient treatment for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date of the order. The procedures for obtaining any order pursuant to this subdivision shall be in accordance with subdivisions (a) to (f), inclusive. The period for further involuntary outpatient treatment authorized by any subsequent order under this subdivision may not exceed 180 days from the date of the order.
(h)At intervals of not less than 60 days during an assisted outpatient treatment order, the director of the outpatient treatment program shall file an affidavit with the court that ordered the outpatient treatment affirming that the person who is the subject of the order continues to meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment. At these times, the person who is the subject of the order shall have the right to a hearing on whether or not he or she still meets the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment if he or she disagrees with the directors affidavit. The burden of proof shall be on the director.
(i)During each 60-day period specified in subdivision (h), if the person who is the subject of the order believes that he or she is being wrongfully retained in the assisted outpatient treatment program against his or her wishes, he or she may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, thus requiring the director of the assisted outpatient treatment program to prove that the person who is the subject of the order continues to meet the criteria for assisted outpatient treatment.
(j)Any person ordered to undergo assisted outpatient treatment pursuant to this article, who was not present at the hearing at which the order was issued, may immediately petition the court for a writ of habeas corpus. Treatment under the order for assisted outpatient treatment may not commence until the resolution of that petition.
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Date
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Status
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| Feb 3, 2016 | Read first time. To print. |
| Feb 4, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 5. |
| Mar 17, 2016 | Referred to Com. on HEALTH. |
| Mar 18, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 28, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. |
| Apr 5, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr 6, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 7, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. |
| Apr 13, 2016 | In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr 26, 2016 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (April 19). |
| Apr 27, 2016 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 28, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 3, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Read second time and amended. |
| May 4, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 11, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| May 27, 2016 | In committee: Held under submission. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Apr 19, 2016 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Health |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| California Association Of Health Plans | * Support | Apr 19, 2016 |
| California Chronic Care Coalition | * Support | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Touro University California College of Pharmacy | * Support | Apr 19, 2016 |
Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1764
Author:(Waldron) – As Amended Ver:May 3, 2016
Policy Committee: | Health | Vote: | 13 - 1 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
Effective July 1, 2017, this bill requires the California Health Benefit Review Program (CHBRP) to examine the impact of coverage, or repeal of coverage, on projected medium-term costs or savings for either two years or, if applicable, five years.
Implementation is contingent upon reauthorization of the chapter establishing CHBRP, which will sunset under current law sunset July 1, 2017.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Assuming CHBRP and its revenue source are extended and the provisions of this bill take effect, this bill could result in an increase in modeling, analytic efforts, actuarial, staff and faculty time, resulting in the following:
- One-time costs to CHBRP of $200,000 to develop and test a customized Cost Simulation Model (CSM).
- An estimated $340,000 per year for staff and contract costs to add the additional projections for each bill CHBRP analyzes.
The fund source for additional funding is uncertain, as the current funding only provides up to $2 million from an assessment on health plans and insurers (Health Care Benefits Fund). The increased costs would result in cost pressure to increase the assessment. Otherwise, this bill would result in less funding available for CHBRP's other duties in order to stay within the $2 million annual appropriation.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author, limiting savings and cost estimates to a 12-month period does not accurately reflect the benefits or impacts of the covered therapy. For example, the author notes treatment with high-cost drugs may show substantial savings—from reduced hospitalization, for example— that manifest after 12 months. This bill is author-sponsored.
- CHBRP. Housed in the University of California Office of the President, CHBRP responds to legislative requests to provide independent analysis of the medical, financial, and public health impacts of bills proposing to mandate – or repeal a mandate for—coverage of health insurance benefits. A small analytic staff works with a task force of faculty from several UC campuses, as well as actuarial consultants, to analyze bills, usually before the Legislature begins formal consideration of such bills. With respect to costs, CHBRP generally projects the cost for the 12-month period in which the mandate is implemented. CHBRP comments on potential long-term impacts when there is significant evidence supporting such impacts.
- CHBRP Comments. CHBRP notes the dynamism of health insurance design, and states holding factors such as technology, regulation, population covered constant for a near-term projection is reasonable. With respect to long-term projections, CHBRP notes numerous factors—take-up rates, advances in practice patterns, technology adoption, policy or regulatory changes— can have massive and unpredictable impacts. They also note they would need to create and implement a simulation model for fiscal impacts (or savings) that can reliably project up to 5 years.
- Prior legislation.
- SB 125 (Hernández), Chapter 9, Statutes of 2015, extends the sunset of the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP) for two years to June 30, 2017, and extends the existing assessment on health plans and health insurers to support the program.
- AB 1996 (Thomson), Chapter 795, Statutes of 2002, requested the UC to create CHBRP. Two prior bills have extended CHBRP's sunset, one in 2002 and one in 2009.
- Staff Comment. UC is required to submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor by January 1, 2017 on implementation of CHBRP's mandate. The CHRBP provisions are also set to expire on July 1, 2017. Furthermore, this bill is contingent on a sunset extension. Thus, it seems logical to consider an expansion of duties in context of a CHBRP sunset extension.
Analysis Prepared by: Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 19, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
Jim Wood, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 1764
Author:(Waldron) – As Amended Ver:April 6, 2016
SUBJECT: California Health Benefit Review Program: financial impacts.
SUMMARY: Requests the California Health Benefit Review Program (CHRBP), within the University of California (UC), in assessing legislation that proposes to mandate a benefit or service, as specified, to include in the financial impacts of a benefit mandate or repeal, the anticipated costs or savings estimated upon implementation for the subsequent two state fiscal years, and if applicable, for the five subsequent state fiscal years.
EXISTING LAW:
- Establishes CHBRP to assess legislation proposing to mandate a benefit or service, and legislation proposing to repeal a mandated benefit or service. Authorizes the appropriate policy or fiscal committee chairperson, the Speaker of the Assembly, or the President pro Tempore of the Senate, to request a written analysis, and requires CHBRP to provide the analysis within 60 days of the request.
- Assesses each plan and insurer an annual fee to fund the actual and necessary expenses of CHBRP, and limits the total annual assessment to $2 million to be deposited into the Health Care Benefits Fund.
- Requests the UC to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2017 regarding the requirements on CHBRP. Sunsets the provisions establishing CHBRP by July 1, 2017.
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has not yet been analyzed by a fiscal committee.
COMMENTS:
- PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, limiting savings and cost estimates to a 12 month period does not accurately reflect the benefits or impacts of the covered therapy. For example, initial costs of higher tier drugs may show substantial savings manifested after a 12 month estimate, including lower hospitalization rates, prevention of organ transplants and may result in better quality of life and health outcomes for the patient at lower costs in the long run.
- BACKGROUND. Existing law establishes CHBRP to assess legislation that proposes to mandate or repeal a mandated health benefit or service. CHRBP’s analysis must include relevant data on the following: public health impacts, medical impact, and financial impact (including potential cost or savings) of a mandated or repealed benefit or service.
CHBRP’s analysis must be submitted to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature within 60 days of a request. SB 125 (Ed Hernandez), Chapter 9, Statutes of 2015, expanded this request to include impacts on essential health benefits and on the California Health Benefit Exchange in the analysis prepared under the program. SB 125 further requested that the UC assess legislation that impacts health insurance benefit design, cost sharing, premiums, and other health insurance topics. SB 125 extended the operative date of the program and the fund, including the annual charge on health care service plans and health insurers, to June 30, 2017 and would repeal the described provisions as of January 1, 2018.
Since 2004, CHRBP has analyzed 128 bills, 49 of which were passed by the Legislature and enrolled to the Governor, and provided two special analyses that supported enacted legislation. Thirty-three of the bills analyzed were vetoed, and 11 were signed into law. Further, 15 bills analyzed by CHBRP in the current two-year legislative session remain active. In 2016, as of the April Policy Committee deadline, CHBRP has analyzed 13 bills, and is completing an analysis of one recently amended bill.
Since CHBRP’s inception, the number of bills referred to CHBRP by the Legislature has varied, with the largest number (15 bills) occurring in 2011. The topics vary widely across the spectrum of health care insurance benefit and plan design, plan administration, and associated topics. CHBRP’s objective analyses are used not only by Legislators and legislative staff but also bill advocates and opponents. - POLICY COMMENT. UC is required to submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor by January 1, 2017 on the statutory requirements of CHBRP. The CHRBP provisions are also set to expire on July 1, 2017. In light of the report and upcoming sunset, instead of imposing additional requirements on the CHBRP analysis, the Committee may wish to instead send a letter and request CHBRP to include in its report to the Governor and Legislature that is due on January 1, 2017 (the effective date of this bill if it is signed by the Governor), the feasibility and impact of including the requirements of this bill in its fiscal impact analysis.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Rosielyn Pulmano / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):