Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 18B § 23

Current through Chapter 231 of the 2024
Section 18B:23 - [Section set out twice. See also version 2.] Children receiving inpatient psychiatric services; department's duty to contact parent or guardian

If the department has care and custody of a child receiving inpatient psychiatric services, the department shall contact the childs parents or guardians, as appropriate, and a member of the childs treatment team within 3 business days of the hospitalization, shall maintain weekly contact with them until the child is discharged, and shall immediately begin discharge planning, with the priority of returning the child to his home or to a community placement. Not later than 5 business days after being notified that continued hospitalization is no longer clinically appropriate, the department shall determine the appropriate type of placement for the child and shall immediately initiate the placement referrals. The department shall document its activities in assisting with discharge placement, including identification of available resources for home-based, community or alternative residential placements, and the barriers, if any, to discharge to the most clinically-appropriate setting. If the initial placement shall not be deemed to be the most clinically-appropriate, the department shall continue to seek an appropriate placement. Not longer than 30 days after being notified that continued hospitalization is no longer clinically appropriate, the department shall refer the child to the interagency review team established pursuant to section 16R of chapter 6A. The department shall submit a monthly report to the secretary of health and human services detailing the activities undertaken pursuant to this section, including the length of time required to place each such child in a clinically appropriate post-discharge setting.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 18B, § 23

Added by Acts 2008, c. 321,§ 8, eff. 11/18/2008.