SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2520

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

        Human Services & Corrections, February 23, 2000

Title:  An act relating to consistent use of terms regarding state hospital patient status.

Brief Description:  Changing terminology in the release from commitment of persons in mental treatment facilities.

Sponsors:  Representatives Schual‑Berke, Parlette and Cody; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Human Services & Corrections:  2/18/2000, 2/23/2000 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Costa, Vice Chair; Franklin, Kohl-Welles, Long, Patterson, Sheahan, Stevens and Zarelli.

Staff:  Fara Daun (786-7459)

Background:  The Health Care Finance Authority has not paid some medical claims for which the state has demanded payment because the current statute does not differentiate between the legal and medical status of mental health patients.  The primary dispute centers on whether a person has been admitted or discharged, irrespective of whether that person has been released from commitment by the court.

Summary of Amended Bill:  This is a technical bill and makes no substantive changes.  It adds and defines the medical status terms admission and discharge and the legal status terms commitment, conditional release, detention, and release.  It clarifies whether legal or medical status is intended by the statute by amending some terms.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The striking amendment changes definitions and clarifies some sections to ensure that all changes are technical and that there are no substantive consequences.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill clarifies payment issues as well as clarifying that the commitment does not end when a person is transferred from a state hospital to a different hospital for treatment of medical issues.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Pat Terry, Acting Director, Division of Mental Health, DSHS (pro).