2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 4 - MENTAL HEALTH › PART 2 - ADMINISTRATION OF STATE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE MENTALLY DISORDERED › CHAPTER 1 - Jurisdiction and General Government › Section 4144.

4144. (a) A state hospital psychiatrist or psychologist may refer a patient to a pilot enhanced treatment program (ETP), as defined in Section 1265.9 of the Health and Safety Code, for temporary placement and risk assessment upon determining that the patient may be at high risk of most dangerous behavior and when safe treatment is not possible in a standard treatment environment. The referral may occur after admission to the State Department of State Hospitals, and after sufficient and documented evaluation of violence risk of the patient, with notice to the patients’ rights advocate at the time of the referral. A patient shall not be placed into an ETP as a means of punishment, coercion, convenience, or retaliation.
(b) Within three business days of placement in an ETP, a dedicated forensic evaluator, who is not on the patient’s treatment team, shall complete an initial evaluation of the patient that shall include an interview of the patient’s treatment team, an analysis of diagnosis, past violence, current level of risk, and the need for enhanced treatment.
(c) (1) Within seven business days of placement in an ETP and with 72-hour notice to the patient and patients’ rights advocate, the forensic needs assessment panel (FNAP) shall conduct a placement evaluation meeting with the referring psychiatrist or psychologist, the patient and patients’ rights advocate, and the dedicated forensic evaluator who performed the initial evaluation. A determination shall be made as to whether the patient clinically requires ETP treatment.
(2) (A) The threshold standard for treatment in an ETP is met if a psychiatrist or psychologist, utilizing standard forensic methodologies for clinically assessing violence risk, determines that a patient meets the definition of a patient at high risk of most dangerous behavior and ETP treatment meets the identified needs of the patient and safe treatment is not possible in a standard treatment environment.
(B) Factors used to determine a patient’s high risk of most dangerous behavior may include, but are not limited to, an analysis of past violence, delineation of static and dynamic violence risk factors, and utilization of valid and reliable violence risk assessment testing.
(3) If a patient has shown improvement during his or her placement in an ETP, the FNAP may delay its certification decision for another seven business days. The FNAP’s determination of whether the patient will benefit from continued or longer term ETP placement and treatment shall be based on the threshold standard for treatment in an ETP specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2).
(d) (1) The FNAP shall review all material presented at the FNAP placement evaluation meeting conducted under subdivision (c), and the FNAP shall either certify the patient for 90 days of treatment in an ETP or direct that the patient be returned to a standard treatment environment in the hospital.
(2) After the FNAP makes a decision to provide ETP treatment and if ETP treatment will be provided at a facility other than the current hospital, the transfer may take place as soon as transportation may reasonably be arranged, but no later than 30 days after the decision is made.
(3) The FNAP determination shall be in writing and provided to the patient and patients’ rights advocate as soon as possible, but no later than three business days after the decision is made.
(e) (1) Upon admission to an ETP, a forensic needs assessment team (FNAT) psychologist who is not on the patient’s multidisciplinary treatment team shall perform an in-depth violence risk assessment and make an individual treatment plan for the patient based on the assessment. The individual treatment plan shall:
(A) Be in writing and developed in collaboration with the patient, when possible. The initial treatment plan shall be developed as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours following the patient’s admission. The comprehensive treatment plan shall be developed following a complete violence risk assessment.
(B) Be based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s physical, mental, emotional, and social needs, and focused on mitigation of violence risk factors.
(C) Be reviewed and updated no less than every 10 days.
(2) The individual treatment plan shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(A) A statement of the patient’s physical and mental condition, including all mental health and medical diagnoses.
(B) Prescribed medication, dosage, and frequency of administration.
(C) Specific goals of treatment with intervention and actions that identify steps toward reduction of violence risk and observable, measurable objectives.
(D) Identification of methods to be utilized, the frequency for conducting each treatment method, and the person, or persons, or discipline, or disciplines, responsible for each treatment method.
(E) Documentation of the success or failure in achieving stated objectives.
(F) Evaluation of the factors contributing to the patient’s progress or lack of progress toward reduction of violence risk and a statement of the multidisciplinary treatment decision for followup action.
(G) An activity plan.
(H) A plan for other services needed by the patient, such as care for medical and physical ailments, which are not provided by the multidisciplinary treatment team.
(I) Discharge criteria and goals for an aftercare plan in a standard treatment environment and a plan for post-ETP discharge follow up.
(3) An ETP patient shall receive treatment from a multidisciplinary team consisting of a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a nurse, a psychiatric technician, a clinical social worker, a rehabilitation therapist, and any other necessary staff who shall meet as often as necessary, but no less than once a week, to assess the patient’s response to treatment.
(4) The staff shall observe and note any changes in the patient’s condition and the treatment plan shall be modified in response to the observed changes.
(5) Social work services shall be organized, directed, and supervised by a licensed clinical social worker.
(6) (A) Mental health treatment programs shall provide and conduct organized therapeutic social, recreational, and vocational activities in accordance with the interests, abilities, and needs of the patients, including the opportunity for exercise.
(B) Mental health rehabilitation therapy services shall be designed by and provided under the direction of a licensed mental health professional, a recreational therapist, or an occupational therapist.
(7) An aftercare plan for a standard treatment environment shall be developed.
(A) A written aftercare plan shall describe those services that should be provided to a patient following discharge, transfer, or release from an ETP for the purpose of enabling the patient to maintain stabilization or achieve an optimum level of functioning.
(B) Prior to or at the time of discharge, transfer, or release from an ETP, each patient shall be evaluated concerning the patient’s need for aftercare services. This evaluation shall consider the patient’s potential housing, probable need for continued treatment and social services, and need for continued medical and mental health care.
(C) Aftercare plans shall include, but shall not be limited to, arrangements for medication administration and follow-up care.
(D) A member of the multidisciplinary treatment team designated by the clinical director shall be responsible for ensuring that the aftercare plan has been completed and documented in the patient’s health record.
(E) The patient shall receive a copy of the aftercare plan when referred to a standard treatment environment.
(f) Prior to the expiration of 90 days from the date of placement in an ETP and with 72-hour notice provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate, the FNAP shall convene a treatment placement meeting with a psychologist from the treatment team, a patients’ rights advocate, the patient, and the FNAT psychologist who performed the in-depth violence risk assessment. The FNAP shall determine whether the patient may return to a standard treatment environment or whether the patient clinically requires continued treatment in an ETP. If the FNAP determines that the patient clinically requires continued ETP placement, the patient shall be certified for further ETP placement for one year. The FNAP determination shall be in writing and provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate within 24 hours of the meeting. If the FNAP determines that the patient is ready to be transferred to a standard treatment environment, the FNAP shall identify appropriate placement within a standard treatment environment in a state hospital, and transfer the patient within 30 days of the determination.
(g) If a patient has been certified for ETP treatment for one year pursuant to subdivision (f), the FNAP shall review the patient’s treatment summary at least every 90 days to determine if the patient no longer clinically requires treatment in the ETP. This FNAP determination shall be in writing and provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate within three business days of the meeting. If the FNAP determines that the patient no longer clinically requires treatment in the ETP, the FNAP shall identify appropriate placement, and transfer the patient within 30 days of the determination.
(h) Prior to the expiration of the one-year certification of ETP placement under subdivision (f), and with 72-hour notice provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate, the FNAP shall convene a treatment placement meeting with the treatment team, the patients’ rights advocate, the patient, and the FNAT psychologist who performed the in-depth violence risk assessment. The FNAP shall determine whether the patient clinically requires continued ETP treatment. The FNAP determination shall be in writing and provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate within 24 hours of the meeting.
(i) If after the treatment placement meeting described in subdivision (h), and after discussion with the patient, the patients’ rights advocate, patient’s ETP team members, and review of documents and records, the FNAP determines that the patient clinically requires continued ETP placement, the patient’s case shall be referred outside of the State Department of State Hospitals to a forensic psychiatrist or psychologist for an independent medical review for the purpose of assessing the patient’s overall treatment plan and the need for ongoing ETP treatment. Notice of the referral shall be provided to the patient and the patients’ rights advocate within 24 hours of the FNAP meeting as part of the FNAP determination. The notice shall include instructions for the patient to submit information to the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the independent medical review.
(1) The forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the independent medical review shall be provided with the patient’s medical and psychiatric documents and records, along with any additional information submitted by the patient, within five business days from the date of the FNAP’s determination that the patient requires continued ETP placement.
(2) After reviewing the patient’s medical and psychiatric documents and records, along with any additional information submitted by the patient, but no later than 14 days after the receipt of the patient’s medical and psychiatric documents and records, the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the independent medical review shall provide the State Department of State Hospitals, the patient, and the patients’ rights advocate with a written notice of the date and time for a hearing. At least one FNAP member is required to attend the hearing. The notice shall be provided at least 72 hours in advance of the hearing, shall include a statement that at least one FNAP member is required to attend the hearing, and advise the patient of his or her right to a hearing or to waive his or her right to a hearing. The notice shall also include a statement that the patient may have assistance of a patients’ rights advocate or staff member at the hearing. Seventy-two-hour notice shall also be provided to any individuals whose presence is requested by the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the independent medical review in order to help assess the patient’s overall treatment plan and the need for ongoing ETP treatment.
(3) If the patient waives his or her right to a hearing, the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the independent medical review shall make recommendations to the FNAP on whether or not the patient should be certified for ongoing ETP treatment.
(4) If the patient does not waive the right to a hearing, both of the following shall be provided:
(A) If the patient elects to have the assistance of a patients’ rights advocate or a staff person, the requested person shall provide assistance relating to the hearing, whether or not the patient is present at the hearing, unless the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist conducting the hearing finds good cause why the requested person should not participate. Good cause includes a reasonable concern for the safety of a staff member requested to be present at the hearing.
(B) An opportunity for the patient to present information, statements, or arguments, either orally or in writing, to show either that the information relied on for the FNAP’s determination for ongoing treatment is erroneous, or any other relevant information.
(5) The conclusion reached by the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist who conducts the independent medical review shall be in writing and provided to the State Department of State Hospitals, the patient, and the patients’ rights advocate within three business days of the conclusion of the hearing.
(6) If the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist who conducts the independent medical review concludes that the patient requires ongoing ETP treatment, the patient shall be certified for further treatment for an additional year.
(7) If the forensic psychiatrist or psychologist who conducts the independent medical review determines that the patient no longer requires ongoing ETP treatment, the FNAP shall identify appropriate placement and transfer the patient within 30 days of determination.
(j) At any point during the ETP placement, if a patient’s treatment team determines that the patient no longer clinically requires ETP treatment, a recommendation to transfer the patient out of the ETP shall be made to the FNAT or FNAP.
(k) The process described in this section may continue until the patient no longer clinically requires ETP treatment or until the patient is discharged from the State Department of State Hospitals.
(l) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Enhanced treatment program” or “ETP” means a supplemental treatment unit as defined in Section 1265.9 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) “Forensic needs assessment panel” or “FNAP” means a panel that consists of a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and the medical director of the hospital or facility, none of whom are involved in the patient’s treatment or diagnosis at the time of the hearing or placement meetings.
(3) “Forensic needs assessment team” or “FNAT” means a panel of psychologists with expertise in forensic assessment or violence risk assessment, each of whom are assigned an ETP case or group of cases.
(4) “In-depth violence risk assessment” means the utilization of standard forensic methodologies for clinically assessing the risk of a patient posing a substantial risk of inpatient aggression.
(5) “Patients’ rights advocate” means the advocate contracted under Sections 5370.2 and 5510.
(6) “Patient at high risk of most dangerous behavior” means the individual has a history of physical violence and currently poses a demonstrated danger of inflicting substantial physical harm upon others in an inpatient setting, as determined by an evidence-based, in-depth violence risk assessment conducted by the State Department of State Hospitals.
(m) The State Department of State Hospitals may adopt emergency regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) to implement the treatment components of this section. The adoption of an emergency regulation under this paragraph is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the State Department of State Hospitals is hereby exempted for this purpose from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 573. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)