According to Kentucky.gov (2015), the bill was filed and introduced on November 30, 2015 by sponsors Tom Burch, Mary Lou Marzian, Kelly Floyd, George Brown Jr., and Ruth Ann Palumbo. The bill was later introduced to the House on January 5, 2016, and was reassigned to Health & Welfare the next day. On January 13, 2016 it was posted in the committee and waived, then it was reported favorably on January 14, 2016. Six days later the bill was recommitted to Appropriations & Revenue (Kentucky.gov, …show more content…
If agreed, then the hospital where the patient was admitted to shall discharge the patient if the physician on staff determines that the patient no longer needs hospitalization. If a person is considered for outpatient treatment, then the court will assign a case manager or an employee of a community health center to propose a plan of treatment that is comprehensive in nature to the individual. The respondent must abide by the comprehensive plan and participate in all treatment sessions. The patient will be monitored by the case manager or community health employee to make sure the patient is adhering to treatment. The case manager will be on call and available twenty-four hours a day if the patient needs them. If the respondent does not comply with the rules set by the legislative bill, then involuntary hospitalization may be rendered. For a person who is on Medicaid, prior authorization needs to be determined before treatment begins. Section 2 KRS 202A.261 states that a public or private hospital can agree to provide outpatient therapy services to a mental health patient, but is not required to do so. A state-operated mental health facility will provide these services. Section 3 KRS 202A.271 says that if a public or private hospital does agree to