HF 2442

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/06/2021 11:29am

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring the legislative auditor to examine patient discharges
from hospitals to nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic; requiring a
report; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR EXAMINATION OF PATIENT DISCHARGES
FROM HOSPITALS TO NURSING HOMES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Examination. new text end

new text begin The legislative auditor shall examine discharges of patients
from hospitals to nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conducting this
examination, the legislative auditor shall review and analyze at least the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) the number of patients discharged from hospitals to nursing homes during the
COVID-19 pandemic;
new text end

new text begin (2) the effects of these patient discharges on the discharged patients and nursing home
residents, including the effect on the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases of nursing home
residents and employees whose cases may be traced to discharged patients and on the number
of hospitalizations and deaths of nursing home residents due to COVID-19 whose cases
may be traced to discharged patients;
new text end

new text begin (3) whether these patient discharges occurred in compliance with federal and state agency
rules or guidance in effect when the discharges took place, including rules or guidance on
testing patients for COVID-19 prior to and following discharge, quarantine of patients with
an unknown COVID-19 infection status at discharge, isolation of patients infected with
COVID-19 following discharge, and other COVID-19 infection control measures;
new text end

new text begin (4) for patient discharges that did not comply with federal and state agency rules or
guidance, the effect of failing to comply with such rules or guidance, including the effect
on the health of patients discharged to nursing homes and on the health of residents of
nursing homes to which patients were discharged; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the impact of these patient discharges on reimbursement to hospitals and nursing
homes for care provided to these patients in hospitals and in nursing homes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Cooperation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health, commissioner of human services,
hospitals, and nursing homes must cooperate with this examination and must provide the
legislative auditor with access to data and records necessary to perform this examination.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2022, the legislative auditor shall submit a written
report to the legislature on the examination required by this section.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative auditor
for the examination of patient discharges from hospitals to nursing homes in section 1.
new text end