S1387 — An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use

Summary

An Act enabling physician assistants to authorize psychiatric holds and ensure adequate training on their use

Bill Text

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The bill updates section 12 of chapter 123 of the General Laws to include physician assistants in various capacities and establishes a training requirement for individuals authorized to restrain or authorize psychiatric holds.

• Chapter 123, Section 12(a)

  a physician assistant licensed pursuant to section 9E of chapter 112,

  This addition incorporates physician assistants as a qualified professional alongside physicians.

• Chapter 123, Section 12(a)

  , physician assistant.

  This addition ensures that physician assistants are recognized as professionals in the context of patient care alongside physicians.

• Chapter 123, Section 12(a)

  , physician assistant.

  This change further acknowledges the role of physician assistants in the context of medical authority in section 12.

• Chapter 123, Section 12

  (f) Before any individual authorized by this section shall restrain an individual or authorize a psychiatric hold, the individual shall undergo 3 hours of specialized training in direct mental health evaluation. The training shall be developed pursuant to regulations and specifications by the department of mental health.

  This new requirement mandates specialized training for individuals authorized to restrain or place individuals on psychiatric hold, enhancing standards for mental health evaluation.

Sponsors

• John J. Cronin · Primary

Subjects