11-R307
2011 -- S 0875 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 05/25/11
S
E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING
A SPECIAL SENATE COMMISSION TO
EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT ROOM DIVERSION
Introduced By:
Senators Perry,
Date Introduced:
April 14, 2011
SECTION 1. WHEREAS, Untreated
substance use disorders, problems of homelessness,
poverty and chronic illness contribute to poor health
outcomes and frequent use of hospital
emergency departments; and
WHEREAS,
The underlying need for clinically appropriate
diversion includes: increased
complexity and acuity of patients presenting to emergency
departments; increase in patient
volume; lack of beds for patients admitted to hospitals; and
shortage of physical space within the
emergency department; and
WHEREAS,
In 2008 the Rhode Island Medicaid program reports
spending a total of $52
million on emergency department expenses alone; and
WHEREAS,
Visits to the Emergency Department are generally the most costly form of
care, but not always the most effective alternative for
care; and
WHEREAS,
According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health the total
number of individuals dependent or abusing alcohol and drugs
was 107,000 or 11.34% percent of
the 12 or older population in
WHEREAS,
Diversion is the practice of redirecting an ambulance away from a hospital's
emergency department when clinically appropriate, and has
become a well-documented national
practice; and
WHEREAS,
Diversion may be one strategy to cope with the temporary mismatches of
demand for emergency care and supply of emergency care
treatment capacity, and
WHEREAS,
Public emergency departments could refer large numbers of patients to
appointments at alternative care facilities if the availability
and coordination of primary care
services were enhanced to provide comprehensive clinical
supports; and
WHEREAS,
That the senate hereby establishes a special senate
commission to convene
to discuss and develop short-term and long-term
strategies to improve hospital service delivery
and utilization of emergency departments in order to meet
the health needs of Rhode Islanders;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
That the special senate commission to study
department diversion is hereby created and shall consist of
nineteen (19) members to be
appointed by the senate president, as follows:
Three
(3) of whom shall be members of the senate, not more than two (2) from the same
political party; one of whom shall be the director of
behavioral health disabilities and hospitals, or
his or her designee; one of whom shall be the director of
human services, or his or her designee;
one of whom shall be the director of department of
health, or his or her designee; one of whom
shall be a representative from an independent hospital;
three (3) of whom shall be representatives
from hospitals affiliated with a major health care system;
one emergency room physician; one
representative from the
local police department; one representative of a local fire
department; one representative from a
Medicaid health insurer;
one representative of whom shall be a researcher/epidemiologist
specializing in substance use disorders; and three (3) of whom
shall be representatives of
community based providers that serve the substance abuse,
mental health and/or uninsured
populations. The commission shall have two (2) co-chairs from
among its members, to be
appointed by the president of the senate.
The
commission shall be charged with studying and making recommendations regarding
the issue of emergency room diversions for individuals
with substance abuse disorders. In
studying this issue the commission is encouraged to:
(1)
Examine trends, current policies, and data pertaining to
emergency department utilization and emergency department
diversion;
(2)
Identify regulatory restrictions which currently prevent
diversion initiatives;
(3)
Provide a forum for state agencies, community-based organizations, faith-based
organizations, volunteer organizations, advocacy groups and
businesses to discuss challenges and
solutions pertaining to emergency department diversion;
(4)
Examine current models that are being used by other states or municipalities to
mitigate the problem;
(5)
Identify and seek ways to remedy gaps in alternatives, specifically in the area
of
making provisions for the availability and use. In
particular, identify permanent funding stream
options for emergency department alternative facilities.
Forthwith
upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
the call of the senate president. Vacancies in said
commission shall be filled in like manner as the
original appointment.
The
membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All
departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and
information,
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as
is deemed necessary or
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this
resolution.
The
joint committee on legislative services is hereby authorized and directed to
provide
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report its findings and
recommendations to the
senate no later than January 31, 2012, and said commission
shall expire on May 31, 2012.
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LC02365/SUB A
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