94 STAT. 1568
Service coordination.
Professional supervision.
Supervising physician. Governing body.
PUBLIC LAW 96-398—OCT. 7, 1980
inpatient treatment in a mental health facility or would without such services require inpatient treatment in such a facility; and (v) provision of each of the following service programs (other than a service program for which there is not sufficient need (as determined by the Secretary) in the center's mental health service area, or the need for which in the center's mental health service area the Secretary determines is currently being met): (I) A program for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism and alcohol abuse and for the rehabilitation of alcohol abusers and alcoholics. (II) A program for the prevention and treatment of drug addiction and abuse and for the rehabilitation of drug addicts, drug abusers, and other persons with drug dependency problems. (2) The provision of comprehensive mental health services through a center shall be coordinated with the provision of services by other health and social service agencies (including public mental health facilities) in or serving residents of the center^ mental health service area to ensure that persons receiving services through the center have access to all such health and social services as they may require. The center'services (A) may be provided at the center or satellite centers through the staff of the center or through appropriate arrangements with health professioneils and others in the center's mental health service area, or, with the approval of the Secretary, in the case of inpatient services, emergency services, partial hospitalization, transitional half-way house services, and certain specialized services, through appropriate arrangements with health professionals and others serving the residents of the mental health service area, (B) shall be available and accessible to the residents of the area promptly, as appropriate, and in a manner which preserves human dignity and assures continuity and high quality care and which overcomes geographic, cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers to the receipt of services, and (C) when medically necessary, shall be available and accessible twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. (3)(A) The mental health care of every patient of a center shall be under the supervision of a member of the professional staff of the center. The center shall provide for having a member of its professional staff available to furnish necessary mental health care in case of an emergency. (B) Any medical services provided by a center shall be under the supervision of a physician unless otherwise permitted by State law. Whenever possible, the supervising physician shall be a psychiatrist. (c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (3), a community mental health center shall have a governing body which (A) is composed of individuals who reside in the center's mental health service area and who, as a group, represent the residents of that area taking into consideration their employment, age, sex, and place of residence, and other demographic characteristics of the area, and (B) is required to meet at least once a month, to establish general policies for the center (including a schedule of hours during which services will be provided), to approve the center's annual budget, and to approve the selection of a director for the center. At least one-half of the members of such body shall be individuals who are not providers of health care.
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