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HB 6022

Mental health: other; authority for prescreening individuals for mental health services; modify. Amends (See bill).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tullio Liberati and 5 co-sponsors

Expands and standardizes prescreening, admission decisions, and crisis stabilization to improve timeliness, safeguards, and discharge planning for mental health care.

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Bill Summary · HB 6022

Overview

HB 6022 (2025-2026, Michigan) proposes amendments to the Mental Health Code (1974 PA 258) to modify provisions related to prescreening and admission processes for mental health services, including crisis stabilization, voluntary and involuntary treatment, and pathways for minors. The bill adds detail on prescreening requirements, second opinions, crisis stabilization unit standards, and procedures governing hospital admissions and discharge planning. It also updates definitions to support these changes.

Main purpose and intent

  • Expand and clarify the authority and process for preadmission screening and prescreening units to assess individuals considered for admission to hospitals, crisis services, or outpatient treatment.
  • Strengthen safeguards and oversight around decisions that determine whether someone is a “person requiring treatment.”
  • Establish or refine processes for second opinions when initial screening decisions are disputed.
  • Create and regulate crisis stabilization units, including standards, supervision, and billing practices.
  • Ensure proper discharge planning and ongoing review for minors admitted to hospitals, including avenues for transfer, referral, or alternative services if hospitalization is not appropriate.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Sec. 100a): Expanded glossary for terms such as abilities, adaptive skills, crisis stabilization unit, preadmission screening unit, designated representative, minor, and more to support implementation.
  • Preadmission screening units (Sec. 409):
    • Require CMH programs and contracted health plans to operate 24/7 prescreening units.
    • Staff requirements: mental health professionals or licensed bachelor’s social workers; supervision by a registered nurse or master’s-level mental health professional.
    • Duty to provide contact information to law enforcement, the court, hospitals, and private security contractors.
    • Timelines: assess within 3 hours of hospital notice; if suitable, authorize voluntary admission; if not, provide referrals and possible second opinions.
    • Second opinions: if a CMH unit denies hospitalization, recipients can request a second opinion from the executive director (within 3 days); if the contracted health plan denies hospitalization, a second opinion from a physician or psychologist occurs within 3 days.
    • Telehealth may be used for assessment.
    • Crisis stabilization: allows crisis services up to 72 hours with subsequent care referrals.
    • If an individual chooses a non-contracted hospital, financial obligations fall outside CMH/DPD funding.
    • Post-discharge outreach and post-discharge service coordination are enabled for contracted plans.
  • Admission authorization (Sec. 410): Individuals seeking informal or formal voluntary admission to CMH- or hospital-operated programs may be considered for admission only after authorization by the applicable preadmission screening unit.
  • Civil liability protections (Sec. 439): Courts and units performing good-faith determinations about whether someone is a person requiring treatment are shielded from certain liability absent gross negligence or willful misconduct.
  • Court orders and notification (Secs. 464, 475, 482, 498e, 498f, 498h, 498l, 498p):
    • Clarify notification requirements for court orders to include individuals, guardians, attorneys, executive directors, and hospital directors.
    • Expanded procedures for monitoring compliance with Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) and hospitalizations, including potential modifications to orders with time limits (e.g., initial orders up to 60 days, second/continuing orders up to 90 days).
    • Mandate prompt court notification if noncompliance is observed; specify options for return to treatment settings or hospitalization.
    • Provide periodic reviews of hospitalized minors’ suitability (every 90 days initially, then every 60 days after) with transfer or discharge planning based on reviews.
  • Minor-specific procedures (Sec. 498e, 498f, 498h, 498l, 498p):
    • Require evaluations of minors requesting hospitalization to determine suitability and need for hospitalization versus alternative services.
    • Second opinions may be sought from executive directors or contracted health plans; decisions must be documented in writing with signatures.
    • If hospitalization is deemed unnecessary, referrals to appropriate services must be provided.
    • Transfer protocols if hospitalization is not warranted or if a hospital is not under contract.
  • Crisis stabilization unit standards (Sec. 972):
    • Department must establish minimum standards for crisis stabilization units, including:
    • Emergency receiving and evaluating functions (without unintended hospital-level billing).
    • Compliance with voluntary and involuntary admission processes.
    • Prohibitions on misrepresenting as a hospital and billing for inpatient services.
    • Safeguards against inappropriate referrals within integrated service networks.
    • Discharge planning, stay length limits, billing standards, and reimbursement for uninsured/underinsured/Medicaid beneficiaries.
    • Oversight: physician, nursing, and supervisory requirements; patient rights posting; safety protocols; pharmacy and medication administration; complaint processes independent from providers.
    • Standards for payer agreements, annual rate setting, and dispute resolution with payers.

Who would be affected

  • Community Mental Health Service (CMH) programs and their boards and executives.
  • Contracted health plans and their medical directors.
  • Hospitals (department-operated, CMH-contracted, and non-contracted facilities).
  • Minor patients and their families/guardians, particularly those involved in hospitalization or AOT processes.
  • Law enforcement, emergency responders, and transport providers connected to crisis and admission workflows.
  • Private providers and crisis stabilization units operating under certification standards.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Preadmission screening units must be available 24/7 and complete assessments within 3 hours of hospital notice.
  • Second opinions must be arranged within 3 days (excluding Sundays/holidays) and documented in writing with appropriate signatures.
  • Minor hospitalization reviews occur at 90 days after admission and every 60 days thereafter.
  • Court orders and modifications to treatment plans can be made or adjusted without a hearing in certain circumstances, with defined timeframes for duration limits.
  • Crisis stabilization units must adhere to established standards and discharge planning requirements, with specified stays and transition pathways.

Potential impact and considerations

  • A more standardized and monitored prescreening and admission process could improve consistency and timeliness of care.
  • Clear pathways for second opinions may reduce disputes over hospitalization decisions.
  • Enhanced crisis stabilization unit standards may ensure safer, more uniform crisis responses while clarifying billing and oversight.
  • Increased involvement of guardians and families in discharge planning for minors, along with defined transfer procedures, could affect families’ access to services and placement options.
  • The bill places responsibilities on multiple entities (CMH programs, contracted plans, hospitals) to coordinate screening, admission, and post-discharge care, potentially increasing administrative workload and interagency collaboration.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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