Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2021

submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may specify;

be a hospital (as defined in section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act);

have an emergency department; and

deploy onsite health care or social service professionals to help connect and integrate patients who are at risk of suicide with treatment and mental health support services.

The eligible health care site is a critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1) of the Social Security Act).

The eligible health care site is a sole community hospital (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii) of the Social Security Act).

The eligible health care site is operated by the Indian Health Service, by an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act), or by an urban Indian organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).

The eligible health care site is located in a geographic area with a suicide rate that is higher than the national rate, as determined by the Secretary based on the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To train emergency department health care professionals to identify, assess, and treat patients who are at risk of suicide.

To establish and implement policies and procedures for emergency departments to improve the identification, assessment, and treatment of individuals who are at risk of suicide.

To establish and implement policies and procedures with respect to care coordination, integrated care models, or referral to evidence-based treatment to be used upon the discharge from the emergency department of patients who are at risk of suicide.

To hire emergency department psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, counselors, therapists, or other licensed health care and behavioral health professionals specializing in the treatment of individuals at risk of suicide.

To develop and implement best practices for the follow-up care and long-term treatment of individuals who are at risk of suicide.

To increase the availability of, and access to, evidence-based treatment for individuals who are at risk of suicide, including through telehealth services and strategies to reduce the boarding of these patients in emergency departments.

To offer consultation with and referral to other supportive services that provide evidence-based treatment and recovery for individuals who are at risk of suicide.

the number of individuals screened in the site’s emergency department for being at risk of suicide;

the number of individuals identified in the site’s emergency department as being—

the number of individuals who are identified in the site’s emergency department as being at risk of suicide by a health care or behavioral health professional hired pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(A);

the number of individuals referred by the site’s emergency department to other treatment facilities, the types of such other facilities, and the number of such individuals admitted to such other facilities pursuant to such referrals;

the effectiveness of programs and activities funded through the grant in preventing suicides and suicide attempts; and

any other relevant additional data regarding the programs and activities funded through the grant.

findings on the Program;

overall patient outcomes achieved through the Program;

an evaluation of the effectiveness of having a trained health care or behavioral health professional onsite to identify, assess, and treat patients who are at risk of suicide; and

a compilation of policies, procedures, and best practices established, developed, or implemented by grantees under this section.