SCS HCS HB 59 & 269 -- SUICIDE PREVENTION; PAIN MANAGEMENT;
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PLANS

This bill requires the development of a state suicide prevention
plan and certain preventive mental health plans.  It also creates
an advisory committee on pain and symptom management.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

The bill requires the Director of the Department of Mental
Health, in partnership with the Department of Health and Senior
Services, to design and develop a state suicide prevention plan
in collaboration with the departments of Social Services,
Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, and
Corrections and with community-based agencies.  The plan must:

(1)  Promote the use of employee assistance and workplace
programs to support employees experiencing depression or other
psychiatric illnesses;

(2)  Promote the use of student assistance and educational
programs to support students with depression, other psychiatric
illnesses, and substance abuse disorders;

(3)  Provide training and technical assistance to local public
health and other community-based professionals on the best
practices to prevent suicides;

(4)  Coordinate federal, state, and local agencies in order to
collect and analyze data on suicides and suicidal behaviors in
Missouri and annually issue a public report;

(5)  Establish a toll-free suicide prevention hotline; and

(6)  Recommend statutory changes, implementation, and funding
requirements to the General Assembly by December 31, 2004.

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

The bill establishes the Missouri State Advisory Council on Pain
and Symptom Management.  The council will consist of 19 members,
who will be appointed by February 1, 2004.  The council is
required to:

(1)  Hold public hearings to gather information relating to pain
management;

(2)  Make recommendations on acute and chronic pain management
practices;

(3)  Analyze statutes, rules, and regulations relating to pain
management;

(4)  Study the use of alternative therapies and any sanctions
imposed;

(5)  Examine the needs of adults, children, the terminally ill,
and minorities that have acute and chronic pain;

(6)  Review the pain management education materials provided by
professional licensing boards;

(7)  Make recommendations to health care professionals for
integrating pain management into their practices and regarding
continuing education requirements for pain management;

(8)  Review guidelines issued by the United States Department of
Health and Human Services; and

(9)  Prepare an annual report to deliver to the Director of the
Department of Health and Senior Services, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the President Pro Tem of the Senate,
and the Governor by February 1 of each year.

Members of the council will serve without compensation but may be
reimbursed for any expenses incurred, subject to appropriation.
The Department of Health and Senior Services will provide
existing personnel to staff the council and may receive any
moneys that become available on behalf of the council.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PLAN

The bill requires the Department of Mental Health to develop a
plan to address the needs of persons who are on a waiting list
for services.  The plan is required to emphasize the partnership
between developmentally disabled individuals and their families,
community providers, and state officials.

The plan is required to include:

(1)  A method for reducing the waiting period to 90 days;

(2)  A description of available services and an evaluation of the
capacity to serve more individuals;

(3)  A method of adjusting support and service levels based on
individual needs and a method for determining when out-of-home,
24-hour care is necessary;

(4)  A description of how the plan with be implemented on a
statewide basis;

(5)  Any recommendations for changes to state law; and

(6)  An analysis of the monetary and programmatic effects in
providing services to all eligible individuals and their
families.

The bill requires the plan to be completed no later than November
1, 2003.  The director of the department is required to submit a
copy of the plan to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the Governor.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am