Examining patients before discharge for community treatment needs

A qualified psychiatric examiner associated with the psychiatric facility where a patient is located who was committed to involuntary hospitalization, delivered for emergency examination or emergency hospitalization, or voluntarily admitted to inpatient treatment at a psychiatric facility pursuant to part IV shall, before the patient's discharge, examine the patient to determine whether an assisted community treatment plan is indicated pursuant to this part. If a plan is indicated, the qualified psychiatric examiner shall prepare the certificate specified by section 334-123. The department of the attorney general shall assist with the preparation and filing of any petition brought pursuant to section 334-123 and with the presentation of the case at any related court proceedings; provided that, if the petitioner is a private provider or other private individual, the petitioner may decline the assistance. The psychiatric facility may notify another mental health program for assistance with the coordination of care in the community for the person. Nothing in this section shall delay the appropriate discharge of a patient from the psychiatric facility after the examination for assisted community treatment indication has been completed.