AR HB1446

Psychiatric residential treatment facilities licensed in Arkansas may only admit children who are Arkansas residents, children of Arkansas resident parents, children placed by another state's child welfare agency, children paid by another state's Medicaid program, children of active-duty military or veterans, or nonresident human trafficking victims when the facility maintains return responsibility.

Department of Human Services must promulgate rules establishing minimum standards and metrics for quality of care at regulated facilities, including trauma-informed programming, evidence-based treatments, short-term services, family-driven approaches, mental health services, educational services, medical coordination, and clinical discharge planning.

Department shall conduct annual quality assurance reviews of each regulated facility examining treatment structure, staff training and ratios, daily activities, client interviews, medication prescriptions, referral data, and on-site operations.

Department may impose adverse actions including letters of reprimand, corrective action plans, and civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation (with each day of noncompliance and each injured client counting as separate violations) for facilities failing to comply with quality care standards or refusing inspections.

For child welfare licensed facilities, Department may petition the Child Welfare Agency Review Board to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses; for psychiatric hospital facilities, Department may petition the State Board of Health for the same actions based on adverse findings.