Section 1262 Of Article 1. General From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.
1262
. (a) When a mental health patient is being discharged from one
of the facilities specified in subdivision (c), the patient and the
patient's conservator, guardian, or other legally authorized
representative shall be given a written aftercare plan prior to the
patient's discharge from the facility. The written aftercare plan
shall include, to the extent known, all of the following components:
(1) The nature of the illness and followup required.
(2) Medications including side effects and dosage schedules. If
the patient was given an informed consent form with his or her
medications, the form shall satisfy the requirement for information
on side effects of the medications.
(3) Expected course of recovery.
(4) Recommendations regarding treatment that are relevant to the
patient's care.
(5) Referrals to providers of medical and mental health services.
(6) Other relevant information.
(b) The patient shall be advised by facility personnel that he or
she may designate another person to receive a copy of the aftercare
plan. A copy of the aftercare plan shall be given to any person
designated by the patient.
(c) Subdivision (a) applies to all of the following facilities:
(1) A state mental hospital.
(2) A general acute care hospital as described in subdivision (a)
of Section 1250.
(3) An acute psychiatric hospital as described in subdivision (b)
of Section 1250.
(4) A psychiatric health facility as described in Section 1250.2.
(5) A mental health rehabilitation center as described in Section
5675 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(6) A skilled nursing facility with a special treatment program,
as described in Section 51335 and Sections 72443 to 72475, inclusive,
of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
(d) For purposes of this section, "mental health patient" means a
person who is admitted to the facility primarily for the diagnosis or
treatment of a mental disorder.