Authorizes psychologists and medical psychologists to evaluate a patient via telehealth for emergency certificates
Summary
HB 137 amends Louisiana’s emergency certificate law to allow certain mental health professionals to perform the required examination by telehealth video conference in limited circumstances. Under current law, an emergency certificate for involuntary admission can be executed only after an actual examination of a person believed to have a mental illness or substance-related or addictive disorder and to be dangerous to self or others or gravely disabled. This bill keeps that requirement, but expands the method of examination to include telehealth when the examiner is a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical psychologist, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
The telehealth examination must use video conferencing technology, and a licensed healthcare professional must be physically present with the patient to help obtain necessary information during the evaluation. The patient must also be medically cleared before admission to a mental health treatment facility. The bill further states that failing to conduct an examination before issuing the certificate is evidence of gross negligence, reinforcing the importance of the evaluation requirement.
Impact
HB 137 changes R.S. 28:53(B)(1) by expressly authorizing telehealth-based emergency certificate examinations for specified professionals, including psychologists and medical psychologists, in addition to psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. It affects the process for initiating emergency involuntary mental health admissions in Louisiana, while preserving the existing safeguards that require an examination, on-site clinical support during the video evaluation, and medical clearance before facility admission. The bill primarily impacts mental health providers, emergency admission procedures, treatment facilities, and patients subject to emergency certificates.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislature. It passed the House 98-0 and the Senate 38-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The available record shows no committee transcript debate, suggesting little public or legislative opposition and a general consensus that the measure improves access and flexibility in emergency mental health evaluations.
Contention
No major points of contention are reflected in the available materials. The main policy issue inherent in the bill is balancing expanded telehealth access for emergency mental health evaluations against the need for reliable in-person support and patient safety. The statute addresses that concern by requiring a licensed healthcare professional to be present with the patient during the video examination and by preserving the requirement that the patient be medically cleared before admission.