2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 28 - Mental Health
RS 28:911 - Definitions

CHAPTER 21. STATEWIDE HUMAN SERVICES DELIVERY

§911. Definitions

As used in this Chapter and unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Behavioral health services" means community-based mental health and addictive disorders services.

(2) "Board" means the governing body of the district.

(3) "Case records" means medical and treatment records, records and investigations of abuse or neglect of adults, records of public health services including children's special health services, nutrition, and immunization, and other medical, disability, or behavioral health service records related to services provided by the district or the department.

(4) "Department" means the Department of Health and Hospitals.

(5) "District" means the human services district or authority.

(6) "Human services accountability plan", referred to in this Chapter as "accountability plan", means the statewide human services plan developed by the department in consultation with the Human Services Interagency Council which sets forth the criteria, process, timelines, guidelines for service delivery, clinical protocols, evidence-based practices, quality management and monitoring, data collection and reporting, performance outcome measures, information management, and readiness assessment protocols to be followed by the department and the districts.

(7) "Human services district or authority", referred to in this Chapter as "district", means an existing or newly created local governmental entity with local accountability and management of behavioral health and developmental disabilities services as well as any public health or other services contracted to the district by the department.

(8) "Human services framework", referred to in this Chapter as "framework", means the requirements specified in the contract between the department and the district that set forth the organizational structure, operational readiness requirements, eligible and priority populations, core and targeted services, and standards for intake and access to institutional and community services, which require adherence to the human services accountability plan for a district. The framework is developed, implemented, and monitored through an ongoing statewide process performed by the department in consultation with the Human Services Interagency Council.

(9) "Human Services Interagency Council", referred to in this Chapter as "interagency council", means the interagency council established by the department to provide policy guidance to the department in the development, implementation, and ongoing management of the districts.

(10) "Readiness assessment" means the process by which a survey team reviews all areas of business management of the district to determine operational readiness based on a set of uniform criteria. The readiness assessment shall address, at a minimum, financial controls, clinical protocols, human resources competency and capacity, legal resources, purchasing, contracting, any applicable national or accreditation standards, and outcomes measurement capability. The survey team shall be composed of at least one representative of the secretary and at least two directors of districts that have been in operation for at least two years.

(11) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.

Acts 2008, No. 373, §2, eff. June 21, 2008.