P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 6155
Mental healthcare services shall be rendered in the level of care affording the greatest autonomy and therapeutically more effective within the mental healthcare system concept, as per the diagnosis and the severity of symptoms and signs at the time the person is evaluated. At any level of treatment, the use of medications may be required, as per the diagnosis and the severity of symptoms and signs at the time the person is evaluated.
Mental healthcare levels include services that range from the most intensive, such as the psychiatric hospital, to those according the greatest autonomy, such as outpatient services.
Levels of care in order of greatest intensity or greatest autonomy are:
(1) Psychiatric hospitals.
(2) Psychiatric quarters or wards in general hospitals, or psychiatric addiction or addictive medicine quarters or wards in general hospitals.
(3) Emergencies.
(4) Transitional and live-in services.
(5) Partial hospitalization.
(6) Intensive outpatient services.
(7) Outpatient services.
(8) Maintenance treatment, with or without medication.
History —Oct. 2, 2000, No. 408, § 4.01; Aug. 6, 2008, No. 183, § 22.