PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1578

PRINTER'S NO. 1817

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

268

Session of

2019

INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, HOHENSTEIN, ULLMAN, SCHLOSSBERG, MERSKI,

JOHNSON-HARRELL AND GILLEN, APRIL 29, 2019

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is the fifth most populous state

in the United States with diverse demographics and ever-changing

health care needs; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 47.2% of adults receive behavioral

health services and 41.9% of children receive behavioral health

services; and

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth maintains a world-class health

care system dedicated to removing barriers between behavioral

health and physical health; and

WHEREAS, Patients experiencing behavioral health issues are

range of effects, including an increased dependency, a loss of a

patient's confidence in the patient's ability to cope and an

increased likelihood of long-term institutionalization;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint

State Government Commission to study the impact of this

Commonwealth's current behavioral health care treatment needs

and behavioral health care system capacity on this

Commonwealth's hospital emergency departments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study

the impact of this Commonwealth's current behavioral health care

further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study

the prevalence of psychiatric boarding, which is the holding of

patients in hospital emergency departments for more than a 24-

hour period after a patient has been admitted but not physically

transferred to an inpatient unit ENCOMPASSES THE TIME PERIOD IN

A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AFTER MEDICAL STABILIZATION OF A

PATIENT IN NEED OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE AND PRIOR TO THE ADMISSION

OR TRANSFER OF THAT PATIENT TO AN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BED; and

be it further

Commonwealth's behavioral health care system and patients; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include recommendations to ensure

that this Commonwealth's health care providers are able to

adequately treat patients with co-occurring behavioral health

and physical health issues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission

establish an advisory committee comprised of, but not limited

to, all of the following individuals:

Drug and Alcohol Programs.

the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

College of Emergency Physicians.

Medical Society.

Psychiatric Society.

organization for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

and Community Providers Association.

Psychiatric Leadership Council.

State Nurses Association.

Osteopathic Medical Association.

BY THE HOSPITAL AND HEALTHSYSTEM ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS.

MEDICAL SOCIETY.

CARE ORGANIZATION.

PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY.

ALCOHOL SERVICE PROVIDERS ORGANIZATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS ALLIANCE.

ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADMINISTRATORS.

ORGANIZATION FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.

ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND

DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.

STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION.

OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

that are deemed appropriate by the Joint State Government

Commission;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a

report with its findings and recommendations WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF

THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION to all of the following:

Representatives.

Representatives;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission solicit

input from representatives of all aspects of the health care

sector and continuum of care to assist the Joint State

Government Commission with its findings and recommendations in

the report.