SB 413

Bill Subjects

Health, Health Care Costs; Health Insurance Mental Health, Mentally Ill Or Impaired Persons

Abstract

Provides, for purposes of provisions of law under which a mentally ill individual may be committed if the individual is dangerous, that an individual may be "dangerous" even though the individual is not inclined toward violent behavior. Amends the provision of law under which an Indiana resident who has a mental illness may be voluntarily admitted to a facility (a hospital, health and hospital corporation, psychiatric hospital, community mental health center, or other institution where an individual with a mental illness can receive rehabilitative treatment and care) to provide that, for purposes of that provision, "mental illness" includes psychiatric and neurobiological brain disorders, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, that sometimes make an individual's performance of the normal activities of everyday life very difficult or impossible. Provides that the voluntary admission of an Indiana resident to a facility by the facility's superintendent may not be limited to Indiana residents who are referred to the facility by a court, the department of child services, a law enforcement agency, or any other officer or entity of state or local government. Provides that whether an individual has insurance coverage and whether the cost of the individual's care may be paid by or on behalf of the individual with private funds may not be considered in determining whether the individual: (1) is admitted to or allowed to continue receiving care in a state institution (an institution that is owned or operated by the state for purposes of the observation, care, treatment, or detention of individuals); or (2) is allowed to receive or continue receiving care from a community mental health center.