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<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="8-1407" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2029 PER CHAPTER 160 OF 2026" title_number="8" title_name="Children, Youth, and Families" subtitle_number="14">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, within 48 hours of being notified of a pediatric overstay patient, the coordinators shall convene a Rapid Response Placement Team.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the coordinators are notified of a pediatric overstay patient on a Friday, the coordinators shall convene a Placement Team within 72 hours of being notified or earlier if possible.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Nothing in this subsection prevents the coordinators from taking steps to secure a placement for a pediatric overstay patient before holding the initial meeting required under subsection (e) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Placement Team shall consist of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the Senior Advisor, in an advisory capacity;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the coordinators, as defined in § 19–388 of the Health – General Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>if applicable, the following members who have knowledge of the child, designated by the coordinators:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a representative of the local department of social services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a representative of the hospital where the child is considered a pediatric hospital overstay patient.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Placement Team shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>develop a plan for the appropriate placement of a pediatric hospital overstay patient; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>arrange for a temporary placement in a licensed setting when a placement has been identified, but a bed is not immediately available.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Placement Team may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>conduct immediate clinical and placement assessments;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>override local department decisions, if necessary to place the child in a clinically appropriate, least restrictive environment;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>secure immediate placement in appropriate and least restrictive available licensed settings; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>authorize the Department of Human Services to execute an emergency procurement under § 13–108 of the State Finance and Procurement Article with an in–State or out–of–state provider by providing the justification for the use of emergency procurement method;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>require out–of–state placements only when no in–State provider offers the required care needed by the child; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>require any out–of–state provider to maintain communication with the parent or guardian regarding treatment and care of the child.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Placement Team shall hold an initial in–person or virtual meeting immediately with all members of the Placement Team and have daily communication with all members of the Placement Team until a placement for the child is secured.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Once convened, the Placement Team shall hold at least one in–person or virtual meeting per week.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The Department of Human Services shall be deemed to be compliant with the prohibition on the use of an inpatient unit or emergency department for a pediatric overstay patient established under § 5–525(c)(2) of the Family Law Article, if the Department is actively searching for a placement for the child.</text>
  </level>
</section>
