Alcohol and drug programs: discharge plans.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law authorizes the department to certify alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment programs in order to, among other things, identify programs that exceed minimal levels of service quality. Existing law requires all programs licensed or certified by the department to disclose specified information to the department, including specified ownership or financial interests, upon initial licensure or certification and renewal of licensure or certification. This bill would require programs licensed or certified by the department to have a written patient discharge plan policy that includes a process for identifying appropriate posttreatment housing for patients, and to submit a copy of that policy to the department upon initial licensure or certification and renewal of licensure or certification. The bill would authorize the department to suspend or revoke the license or certification of a program that does not comply with these provisions.