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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2522 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Acts 90 and 263, Session Laws of Hawaii
2019, established a task force and working group, respectively, to conduct a
comprehensive review of the current behavioral system of care, including
existing resources, gaps, and identification of action steps to improve the
overall continuum of care. The final
task force report to the legislature highlights the need in Hawaii for a
coordinated network of stabilization beds which will allow triage, clinical
assessment, and recommendation for next level of care for those struggling with
substance use, mental health conditions, and homelessness.
The legislature also finds that the National
Coalition for the Homeless has found that sixty-four per cent of homeless
individuals are dependent on alcohol or other substances. The homeless point in time count for Oahu
reported that 36.4 per cent of homeless single adults suffer from some type of
mental illness. The intersection of
homelessness and behavioral health conditions is a crisis in Hawaii, which contributes
to Hawaii having the second highest rate of homelessness in the United
States. There is currently no
coordinated system of stabilization from the streets that assesses for and
links to the next level of clinical care.
The legislature
further finds the current options for those needing stabilization from
substance use, mental health conditions, or homelessness are stretched. Emergency facilities throughout the entire
State have experienced substantial increases in psychiatric emergency admissions,
which has resulted in overcrowding and unsafe environments for patients and
medical staff.
The legislature
additionally finds that comprehensive crisis response and stabilization
services are crucial elements of the continuum of care. Reducing unnecessary transport of clients to
emergency departments and placing clients in more suitable levels of care will
improve outcomes for consumers, reduce inpatient hospital stays, and facilitate
access to other behavioral health services.
The
legislature also finds that the Hawaii coordinated access resource entry system
(CARES) provides access to substance use treatment and behavioral health
services. The goal of CARES is to
implement a synchronized system of care rather than an assortment of
independent services. In its first three
months of operation, CARES has identified that a lack of stabilization beds
represents a significant gap in services.
The purpose of this Act
is to require the department of health to establish short-term residential beds
for the purpose of stabilization from mental health conditions or substance use
and to assess patients and triage them to a clinically appropriate level of
care through CARES.
SECTION 2. The department of health shall establish a continuum of stabilization beds statewide by repurposing unused state facilities for short-term residential use by non-forensic patients experiencing substance use or mental health conditions and assessing and triaging these patients to a clinically appropriate level of care through the Hawaii coordinated access resources entry system.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purposes of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
DOH; Substance Use; Mental Health Conditions; CARES; Homelessness; Stabilization Beds; Appropriation
Description:
Requires DOH to establish short-term residential beds for the purpose of stabilization from mental health conditions or substance use and to assess patients and triage them to a clinically appropriate level of care through the Hawaii coordinated access resource entry system (CARES). Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.