PRINTER'S NO. 1578
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
268
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, HOHENSTEIN, ULLMAN, SCHLOSSBERG, MERSKI
AND JOHNSON-HARRELL, APRIL 29, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 29, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the
impact of this Commonwealth's current behavioral health needs
and behavioral health care system capacity on hospital
emergency departments and patient health.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is the fifth most populous state
in the United States with diverse demographics and ever-changing
health care needs; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 47.2% of adults receive behavioral
health services and 41.9% of children receive behavioral health
services; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth maintains a world-class health
care system dedicated to removing barriers between behavioral
health and physical health; and
WHEREAS, Patients experiencing behavioral health issues are
not well-served during long stays in hospital emergency
departments; and
WHEREAS, Hospital emergency departments are unable to find
timely and appropriate placements for individuals in need of
behavioral health services; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
WHEREAS, Prolonged and unnecessary hospital stays can have a
range of effects, including an increased dependency, a loss of a
patient's confidence in the patient's ability to cope and an
increased likelihood of long-term institutionalization;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to study the impact of this
Commonwealth's current behavioral health care treatment needs
and behavioral health care system capacity on this
Commonwealth's hospital emergency departments; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
the impact of this Commonwealth's current behavioral health care
treatment needs and behavioral health care system capacity on
patient health; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
how current Federal and State laws and regulations impact the
ability of this Commonwealth's health care system to treat
behavioral health and physical health issues; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
the prevalence of psychiatric boarding, which is the holding of
patients in hospital emergency departments for more than a 24-
hour period after a patient has been admitted but not physically
transferred to an inpatient unit; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study
this Commonwealth's current behavioral health care treatment
needs to determine the impact of psychiatric boarding on this
Commonwealth's behavioral health care system and patients; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the study include recommendations to ensure
that this Commonwealth's health care providers are able to
20190HR0268PN1578 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
adequately treat patients with co-occurring behavioral health
and physical health issues; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish an advisory committee comprised of, but not limited
to, all of the following individuals:
(1) A representative recommended by the Department of
Drug and Alcohol Programs.
(2) A representative recommended by the Department of
Human Services.
(3) A physician recommended by the Department of Health.
(4) A representative of a rural hospital recommended by
the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(5) A representative of an urban hospital recommended by
the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(6) A representative of a suburban hospital recommended
by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
(7) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
College of Emergency Physicians.
(8) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Medical Society.
(9) A physician who is a member of the Pennsylvania
Psychiatric Society.
(10) A representative recommended by the Drug and
Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania.
(11) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Recovery Organizations Alliance.
(12) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
organization for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
(13) A representative recommended by the Rehabilitation
and Community Providers Association.
20190HR0268PN1578 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(14) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Psychiatric Leadership Council.
(15) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
State Nurses Association.
(16) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
Osteopathic Medical Association.
(17) Any other representatives from other organizations
that are deemed appropriate by the Joint State Government
Commission;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report with its findings and recommendations to all of the
following:
(1) The Health and Human Services Committee of the
Senate.
(2) The Health Committee of the House of
Representatives.
(3) The Human Services Committee of the House of
Representatives;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission solicit
input from representatives of all aspects of the health care
sector and continuum of care to assist the Joint State
Government Commission with its findings and recommendations in
the report.
20190HR0268PN1578 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25