25-10-112. Liability for costs of detention, involuntary hospitalization and proceedings therefor.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section, the county in which a person is detained or in which involuntary hospitalization proceedings are brought shall pay the costs of:

(i) The first seventy-two (72) hours of detention, in addition to any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday that falls within the seventy-two (72) hours, pursuant to W.S. 25-10-109, including costs of medical treatment for those conditions:

(A) That resulted in the emergency detention of the person; or

(B) That are attributable to affirmative actions taken by the person that have placed the person in danger of suicide or serious bodily harm and require immediate medical attention.

(ii) Proceedings for detention or involuntary hospitalization pursuant to W.S. 25-10-109 or 25-10-110. The costs of these proceedings include the cost of appointed counsel and examiners;

(iii) Clothing, if the person does not have and cannot afford to purchase adequate clothing; and

(iv) Costs incurred under W.S. 25-10-125(b).

(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, when a detained person or proposed patient is not a resident of Wyoming, the department shall pay the costs listed in paragraphs (a)(i) through (iii) of this section.

(c) The county shall pay for the first seventy-two (72) hours as provided in subsection (a) of this section even if the patient waives the hearing required under W.S. 25-10-109 and proceeds to voluntary outpatient treatment, directed outpatient commitment or involuntary hospitalization proceedings. Subject to the provisions of subsections (d) and (e) of this section, if continued emergency detention is ordered pursuant to W.S. 25-10-109(k)(iii), the county's liability for any costs of detention, treatment or transportation shall terminate after the first seventy-two (72) hours of detention, in addition to any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. The department shall be responsible for those costs after the expiration of the county's responsibility for payments of the costs. All costs of treatment, transportation and continued emergency detention incurred after the first seventy-two (72) hours of detention, in addition to any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, shall be paid by:

(i) The department for persons hospitalized in the state hospital; and

(ii) The department for persons hospitalized in other hospitals, consistent with W.S. 25-10-110(j) and 25-10-104.

(d) The hospital or other treatment provider shall attempt to recover all costs of treatment from public and private health insurance and from government benefit programs, including the veterans' administration, the Indian health service of the United States department of health and human services and any other federal agency that may be responsible for the costs of treatment, prior to seeking payment from the county or the department. The hospital or other treatment provider shall have discharged its obligation to recover costs under this subsection if it:

(i) Repealed by Laws 2016, ch. 102, § 3.

(ii) Certifies to the county or the department that:

(A) The patient has no public or private health insurance;

(B) There are no other government benefit programs from which it can recover the costs of treatment; and

(C) If the patient might qualify for benefits, payment has been denied after submitting a written demand for payment to all federal agencies that may be responsible for the costs of treatment, including the veterans' administration and the Indian health service of the United States department of health and human services. Payment shall be deemed denied if a written demand for payment is made and no response is received within three (3) months of being properly submitted. If a demand is paid after having been deemed denied under this subparagraph, and after the county or department has paid the hospital or other treatment provider, the amount of the demand payment shall be remitted to the county or department, whichever entity paid the hospital or other treatment provider. If a county or the department has paid a hospital or other treatment provider, the county or the department shall have a subrogation right against any entity to whom the hospital or provider sent a written demand.

(e) When a person is detained under W.S. 25-10-109, the county in which the person resided shall be liable for costs of treatment for the first seventy-two (72) hours of detention, in addition to any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday that falls within the seventy-two (72) hours. If the person remains in detention after the hearing pursuant to W.S. 25-10-109(k)(iii), the department shall directly, or under contract with local providers, provide treatment for those conditions specified in paragraph (a)(i) of this section until the person is released from detention or involuntary commitment is ordered, subject to payment of costs as provided in this subsection or subsection (c) of this section.

(f) For purposes of this section, "costs" shall not include the expenses for any medical procedures that are not:

(i) Related to the assessment of or necessary treatment for the suspected mental illness; or

(ii) Otherwise specified in paragraph (a)(i) of this section.

(g) The department in consultation with each board of county commissioners may establish a single point of responsibility or gatekeeper. Gatekeeper duties shall include, but are not limited to, providing guidance on issues of detention and involuntary treatment and monitoring and coordinating timely, efficient and effective patient treatment prior to, during and after any emergency detention or involuntary treatment under this act. No gatekeeper designated under this subsection shall provide inpatient psychiatric treatment to patients under this act, unless the gatekeeper has been approved by the department of health to provide these services.

(h) The county attorney shall notify the department and any gatekeeper of any detention, continued emergency detention order, directed outpatient commitment or involuntary hospitalization order within twenty-four (24) hours.

(j) The department, boards of county commissioners, designated hospitals, gatekeepers and other treatment providers may, upon contract or agreement, coordinate and monitor the services and payments required for the treatment of persons with mental illness as provided under this section. Pursuant to contract or agreement, the department may assume any part of the expenses associated with a gatekeeper which expenses would otherwise be the responsibility of a county under this act, including expenses for the transportation of patients to appropriate care settings.