PA HB493

Pennsylvania Department of Health must develop and administer a web-based registry of acute care mental health beds to help place individuals needing inpatient psychiatric treatment

Registry information must be updated every 8 hours and include available bed counts, facility contact information, types of patients accepted, security levels, and services offered at each participating facility

Health care professionals (physicians, osteopaths, physician assistants, certified registered nurse practitioners) and their designees can access the full registry to search for appropriate beds

Public version of the registry must display limited information including facility locations, available beds, waiting list numbers, and estimated wait times while protecting confidential patient information

Department of Health must notify the Legislative Reference Bureau within 10 days of the registry's development, with most provisions taking effect 60 days after publication of that notice