PRINTER'S NO. 3287
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2028
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY PICKETT, BAKER, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, EVERETT, MAJOR,
MILNE, MURT, ROZZI, THOMAS, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD,
MAY 4, 2016
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 4, 2016
AN ACT
Providing for outpatient psychiatric oversight.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Outpatient
Psychiatric Oversight Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Full-time equivalent." Thirty-seven and one-half hours per
week.
"Outpatient psychiatric clinic." A nonresidential treatment
setting in which psychiatric, psychological, social, educational
and other related services are provided under medical
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supervision. It is designed for the evaluation and treatment of
individuals of any age with mental illness or emotional
distress. Outpatient services are provided on a planned and
regularly scheduled basis.
"Psychiatrist." A physician who has completed at least three
years of a residency in psychiatry and is licensed to practice
psychiatry in this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Requirements.
The following shall apply:
(1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2), an
outpatient psychiatric clinic is required to have a
psychiatrist on site for two hours of psychiatric time per
week for each full-time equivalent treatment staff member
employed by the outpatient psychiatric clinic. Telepsychiatry
provided by a psychiatrist that is not on site with
prescriptive authority in this Commonwealth may be utilized
with a service description approved by the department but
shall not be included in the required psychiatric time
required under this paragraph.
(2) Fifty percent of the required on-site psychiatric
time under paragraph (1) may be provided by other advanced
practice professionals specializing in behavioral health with
prescriptive authority in this Commonwealth.
Section 4. Regulations.
The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary to
carry out the provisions of this act.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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