Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2424
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Providing for hospital discharge planning with lay caregivers.
Sponsors: Representatives Tharinger, Johnson, Cody, Harris, Rodne, Riccelli, Jinkins, Walkinshaw, Moeller, Springer and McBride.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/19/16
Staff: Ariele Landstrom (786-7190).
Background:
Hospitals are required to establish and maintain a system for discharge planning. They also must establish written policies and procedures to:
identify patients needing further nursing, therapy, or supportive care following discharge from the hospital;
develop a documented discharge plan for each identified patient, including relevant patient history, specific care requirements, and the date any follow-up care is to be initiated; and
coordinate with patient, family, caregiver, and appropriate members of the health care team.
A health care provider, an individual who assists a health care provider in the delivery of health care, or an agent and employee of a health care provider may not disclose health care information about a person to any other person without the patient's written authorization. A health care provider or facility may disclose health care information, except information related to sexually transmitted diseases, about a patient without the patient's authorization to the extent a recipient needs to know the information, if the disclosure is to a person who the provider or facility reasonably believes is providing health care to the patient.
Federal law allows hospitals to share information that is directly relevant to the involvement of a spouse, family member, friend, or other person identified by the patient, in the patient's care.
Summary of Bill:
"Lay caregiver" is defined as any individual designated as such by a patient who provides aftercare assistance to a patient living in his or her residence.
Hospital discharge policies must ensure that a discharge plan is appropriate for a patient's physical condition, and emotional and social needs. If a lay caregiver is designated, the discharge policies must take into consideration the lay caregiver's abilities as disclosed to the hospital.
As part of a patient's individualized treatment plan, the discharge criteria must include the following:
the details of the discharge plan;
hospital staff assessment of the patient's ability for self-care after discharge;
an opportunity for the patient to designate a lay caregiver;
documentation of any lay caregiver's contact information;
a description of aftercare tasks necessary to promote the patient's ability to stay at home;
an opportunity for the patient and the lay caregiver, if designated, to participate in discharge planning;
instruction or training provided to the patient and lay caregiver, if designated, on aftercare tasks; and
notification to a lay caregiver, if designated, of the patient's discharge or transfer.
Hospitals are not required to adopt discharge policies or criteria that:
delay a patient's discharge or transfer to another facility or to home; or
require the disclosure of protected health information to a lay caregiver without obtaining a patient's consent as required by state and federal laws governing health information privacy and security.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.