This regulation governs the procedures for transferring persons who are under involuntary mental health treatment commitments in Pennsylvania. Facility directors and treatment teams must notify the relevant county administrator(s) before transferring a patient, and transfers may only be made to approved facilities unless a court order directs otherwise. Transfers between levels of care (e.g., inpatient to partial hospitalization or outpatient) do not affect the original commitment order, but transfers resulting in greater restrictions require a hearing. Special procedural requirements apply to transfers involving persons committed from correctional facilities, forensic or intermediate care units, interstate transfers, and emergency medical situations.
View official source55 Pa. Code § 5100.90 - Transfers of persons in involuntary treatment State Regulations Compare (a) When the treatment team or director of a facility, or both, determine that a transfer of a person in involuntary treatment is appropriate, they shall notify the county administrator of the planned transfer, setting out the reasons for the transfer which shall then be reviewed by the county administrator to determine whether the appropriate services are available and to arrange for continuity of care if the person is referred from a State mental health facility. (b) Where a transfer of a person in involuntary treatment will involve a transfer to another county, the county administrator of the receiving county will be notified, and shall review the transfer as in subsection (a). (c) Transfers of persons in involuntary treatment may only be made to an approved facility during the term of any given commitment unless there is a court order prohibiting such an action. (d) A patient's transfer from inpatient to partial hospitalization or outpatient facilities or programs, or from a partial program to an outpatient program, does not affect the original involuntary commitment order. Where a patient's transfer will result in greater restraints being placed upon the patient, the transfer shall occur only after a hearing when it is determined that the transfer is necessary and supportive to the patient's treatment plan. (e) For purposes of this section, an entire State hospital or private psychiatric hospital shall be considered to be one facility, except for those distinct parts designated as either forensic units or intermediate care units. (f) Transfers within the mental health system of persons admitted or committed from a prison or correctional facility shall not be effected without approval of the court having criminal jurisdiction over the person. (g) Except in an emergency, persons in treatment under section 304(g)(2) of the act ( 50 P. S. § 7304(g)(2) ), may be transferred if prior notice has been given to and no objection has been received with 20 days from the judge and district attorney from the committing court. (h) In an emergency and on a temporary basis, persons in treatment under section 304(g)(2) of the act, may only be transferred for acute medical treatment when life or health would be in immediate danger without such transfer. When such transfers are accomplished, the court and district attorney of the committing court must be notified. The expected duration of such transfer, security measures, and reasons for transfer should be described in the notice. (i) Transfers of persons in treatment under section 304(g)(2) to a more secure facility in order to protect the person or others from life threatening behavior must be ordered by the court. (j) Interstate transfers of persons on involuntary commitment status shall be coordinated by the Department's Office of Interstate Compact. Notes 55 Pa. Code § 5100.90 This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 5100.78 (relating to transfer of persons in involuntary treatment). State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox