State statute reference concerning partial hospitalization, 1988.

A survey process was begun in 1983 collecting and examining state statutes governing Partial Hospitalization programs. Data were collected from 37 states and the Country of Canada, which were then analyzed into the categories of definition, goals, target population, length of stay, frequency of patient participation, duration of a program day, program services, staffing, and documentation and quality assurance. The results revealed a great diversity of the operationalization of the treatment modality of partial hospitalization through state statutes. There is a clear need for increased levels of clarity and uniformity of this treatment mode.