Assembly Approves Bill Helping Police Handle Emergency Mental Health Detentions

The Wisconsin State Assembly has approved a bill designed
to help police better deal with emergency mental health detentions. Police
officers around the state have said for years that they spend too much time
waiting in emergency rooms for doctors to clear people for transport, and
driving people to facilities. The Assembly signed off on a bill Wednesday that allows
police departments to contract with other law enforcement agencies, ambulance
companies or third parties to transport emergency detainees. The bill also
requires state health officials to seek any federal approval they may need to
provide Medicaid reimbursement to counties for transportation costs.