Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco expressed concern about the impact of a recent bill on mental health care in New Jersey that would extend involuntary emergency room stays for mentally ill patients.
The issue arose after a law enacted last August doubled the amount of time mentally ill ER patients can be held involuntarily, from 72 hours to 144 hours.
“The trend of individuals spending extended stays in the emergency room is concerning, especially in Morris County,” Bucco, R-Morris, wrote in a letter Thursday to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Prolonged detention undermines the well-being and dignity of people in need, he said. It also strains hospital resources and prevents timely and effective care.
Bucco called on the Department of Human Services to analyze the current system and look for ways to reduce unnecessary long emergency room stays.
Lack of new mental health housing
In his letter to state leaders, Bucco also highlighted the lack of new community mental health facilities for adults with severe mental illness. It affects people who are discharged from the hospital and those who relapse in the community. They require one hour of supervision in a group home setting rather than 24-day independent living.”
Bucco called on the Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize the development of licensed community homes for adults with mental illness to “meet the growing need for supervised care in our communities.”
Neither the ministry nor Booko responded to requests for comment.
