H.F. 3879 Summary

• Health plans must eliminate cost-sharing (copayments, deductibles, coinsurance) for counseling and assessment services for enrollees who are suicidal or have attempted suicide.

• Facilities treating mental health patients must employ sufficient trained staff to provide one-on-one counseling at any time and daily counseling to all patients, with additional requirements for acute care hospitals with emergency departments.

• Facilities and residential/nonresidential programs must treat suicidal patients with respect and dignity, ensure clinical staff receive destigmatization training, avoid retraumatizing patients, and refrain from psychological testing during or immediately after crisis periods.

• Facilities must not discharge suicidal patients into homelessness and cannot transfer them to correctional facilities or detention centers unless the patient presents a danger to others' safety.

• By January 1, 2023, the board must adopt a model policy for police officer responses to suicidal individuals requiring accompaniment by trained counselors, restriction on force/weapons use unless clear threats exist, and gentle respectful approach; local law enforcement agencies must adopt identical or substantially similar policies by July 1, 2023.