(a) Counties may designate facilities to provide evaluation and treatment in accordance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150) of Chapter 2 of this part, and intensive treatment in accordance with Articles 4 through 4.7, inclusive, and Article 6 (commencing with Section 5300) of Chapter 2 of this part. Designated facilities shall meet those designation requirements duly established by the State Department of Health Care Services. Subject to requirements duly established by the State Department of Health Care Services, counties may designate appropriate facilities, that are not hospitals or clinics.
(b) The State Department of Health Care Services shall approve county designation of facilities to provide the types of treatment described in subdivision (a).
(c) All regulations relating to the approval of facilities designated by the county in accordance with this part, heretofore adopted by the State Department of Mental Health, or a successor, shall remain in effect and shall be fully enforceable by the State Department of Health Care Services with respect to the designation of any facility or program required to be approved to provide the types of treatment described in subdivision (a), unless and until readopted, amended, or repealed by the State Department of Health Care Services. The State Department of Health Care Services shall succeed to and be vested with all duties, powers, purposes, functions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the State Department of Mental Health, or a successor, as they relate to approval of facilities to provide the types of treatment described in subdivision (a).
(d) The State Department of Health Care Services shall, in consultation with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, provider representatives, substance use treatment representatives, patients’ rights advocates, disability rights advocates, and other relevant stakeholders, establish updated regulations for the purpose of developing designation requirements for facilities who are admitting and treating persons involuntarily pursuant to this part. At a minimum, the regulations shall include all of the following;
(1) Minimum substance use disorder related service requirements with sufficient substance use disorder staff to maintain appropriate substance use disorder only and cooccurring disorder programs, treatment setting, services, and safety measures, based on the individual patient’s substance use disorder needs.
(2) Standards for offering medications for addiction treatment (MAT) or an effective referral process in place with narcotic treatment programs, community health centers, or other MAT providers.
(3) Length of stay standards consistent with evidence-based care for substance use disorders.
(4) Discharge planning for substance use disorder services, consistent with existing requirements.
(5) Privacy and data sharing requirements, including, but not limited to developing guidance and tools to facilitate data sharing for care coordination and discharge purposes.
(6) The process for transitioning and assisting designated facilities to meet updated regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, providing substance use disorder services.
(7) Systems of public accountability and oversight that include, but are not limited to, readiness to meet, and ongoing maintenance of, required standards for staffing, facilities, and care established pursuant to this section.
(e) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the State Department of Health Care Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this section, in whole or in part, by means of plan or county letters, information notices, plan or provider bulletins, or other similar instructions, until the time regulations are adopted no later than December 31, 2027.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 644, Sec. 7. (SB 1238) Effective January 1, 2025.)