Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Mental-health agency opposes restricting first-certification to psychiatrists, seeks Title 26 fix to include physician assistants
Summary
A Department of Mental Health representative told a legislative committee the department does not support a draft that would require board-certified psychiatrists for the first certification in the involuntary-admission process; DMH said APRNs are currently authorized under Title 26 but that physician assistants would need statutory changes and additional training to be included.
A Department of Mental Health representative told a legislative committee that the agency does not support proposed statutory language that would change who may complete the "first certification" used in involuntary mental-health admissions.
The representative said the draft appears to reference the statutory provision used for second certifications and therefore needs technical correction, and added that APRNs (advanced practice registered nurses) are already able to complete first certifications under current Title 26 authority. "The Department of Mental Health does not support the change that includes the other health professionals," the DMH representative said, while offering to work with legal staff to draft language tied to Title 26 that could allow physician assistants to sign when the statute is amended.
Why it matters:…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
