ARTICLE 5. INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT.

§27-5-2a. Process for involuntary hospitalization.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Addiction” has the same meaning as the term is defined in §27-1-11 of this code.

(2) “Authorized staff physician” means a physician, authorized pursuant to the provisions of §30-3-1 et seq. or §30-14-1 et seq. of this code, who is a bona fide member of the hospital’s medical staff.

(3) “Hospital” means a facility licensed pursuant to the provisions of §16-5b-1 et seq. of this code, and any acute care facility operated by the state government, that primarily provides inpatient diagnostic, treatment, or rehabilitative services to injured, disabled, or sick individuals under the supervision of physicians.

(4) “Psychiatric emergency” means an incident during which an individual loses control and behaves in a manner that poses substantial likelihood of physical harm to himself, herself, or others.

(b)(1) If a mental hygiene commissioner, the designated county magistrate, and a circuit judge are unavailable or unable to be immediately contacted, an authorized staff physician ~~or other mental health professional~~ may order the involuntary hospitalization of an individual who is present at, or presented at, a hospital emergency department in need of treatment, if the authorized staff physician believes, following an examination of the individual, that the individual is addicted or is mentally ill and, because of his or her addiction or mental illness, is likely to cause serious harm to themselves or to others if allowed to remain at liberty. The authorized staff physician shall sign a statement attesting to his or her decision that the patient presents as a harm to him or herself or others and needs to be held involuntarily for up to seventy-two hours. ~~A copy shall be provided to the patient.~~ The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall generate a form for the statement to be signed by the authorized staff physician or other person authorized by the hospital and provided to the patient.

(2) Immediately upon admission, or as soon as practicable thereafter, but in no event later than twenty-four hours after an involuntary hospitalization pursuant to this section, the authorized staff physician or designated employee shall file a mental hygiene petition in which the authorized staff physician certifies that the individual for whom the involuntary hospitalization is sought is addicted or is mentally ill and, because of his or her addiction or mental illness, is likely to cause serious harm to themselves or to other individuals if allowed to remain at liberty. The authorized staff physician shall also certify the same in the individual’s health records. Upon receipt of this filing, the mental hygiene commissioner, designated county magistrate, or circuit judge shall conduct a hearing pursuant to §27-5-2 of this code.

(3) An individual who is involuntarily hospitalized pursuant to this section shall be released from the hospital within seventy-two hours, unless further detained under the applicable provisions of this article.

(c) During a period of involuntary hospitalization authorized by this section, upon consent of the individual or in the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency, the individual may receive treatment. The ~~medical provider~~ hospital or authorized staff physician shall exercise due diligence in determining the individual’s existing medical needs and provide treatment the individual requires, including previously prescribed medications.

(d) Each ~~health care provider~~ hospital or authorized staff physician which provides services under this section shall be paid for the services at the same rate the ~~health care provider~~ hospital or authorized staff physician negotiates with the patient’s insurer. If the patient is uninsured, the ~~health care provider~~ hospital or authorized staff physician may file a claim for payment with the West Virginia Legislative Claims Commission in accordance with §14-2-1 et seq. of this code.

(e) ~~Persons~~ Authorized staff physicians and hospitals and its employees carrying out duties or rendering professional opinions as provided in this section shall be free from liability for such actions, if such actions are performed in good faith and within the scope of his or her professional duties and in a manner consistent with the standard of care.

(f) By no later than July 1, 2020, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall provide each hospital with a list of names and contact information of the mental hygiene commissioners, designated county magistrates, and circuit judges to address mental hygiene petitions in the county where the hospital is located. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall update this list regularly and the list shall reflect on-call information. If a mental hygiene commissioner, designated county magistrate, or circuit judge does not respond to the request within twenty-four hours a report shall be filed to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

(g) No action taken against an individual pursuant to this section may be construed to be an adjudication of the individual, nor shall any action taken pursuant to this section be construed to satisfy the requirements of W.Va. Code §61-7-7(a)(4).

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit an authorized physician to order the involuntary hospitalization of an individual whom the physician believes is addicted or mentally ill.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.