HF 3503

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/18/2020 10:50am

A bill for an act
relating to health; modifying postacute care discharge planning; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 144.586, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 144.586, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Postacute care discharge planning.

Each hospital, including hospitals
designated as critical access hospitals, must comply with the federal hospital requirements
for discharge planning which include:

(1) conducting a discharge planning evaluation that includes an evaluation of:

(i) the likelihood of the patient needing posthospital services and of the availability of
those services; and

(ii) the patient's capacity for self-care or the possibility of the patient being cared for in
the environment from which the patient entered the hospital;

(2) timely completion of the discharge planning evaluation under clause (1) by hospital
personnel so that appropriate arrangements for posthospital care are made before discharge,
and to avoid unnecessary delays in discharge;

(3) including the discharge planning evaluation under clause (1) in the patient's medical
record for use in establishing an appropriate discharge plan. The hospital must discuss the
results of the evaluation with the patient or individual acting on behalf of the patient. The
hospital must reassess the patient's discharge plan if the hospital determines that there are
factors that may affect continuing care needs or the appropriateness of the discharge plan;
and

(4) providing counseling, as needed, for the patient and family members or interested
persons to prepare them for posthospital care. The hospital must provide new text begin : (i) new text end a list of available
Medicare-eligible home care agencies or skilled nursing facilities that serve the patient's
geographic area, or other area requested by the patient if such care or placement is indicated
and appropriate new text begin ; and (ii) information regarding the option of a family member to be
reimbursed for providing certain home care services under medical assistance new text end . Once the
patient has designated their preferred providers, the hospital will assist the patient in securing
care covered by their health plan or within the care network. The hospital must not specify
or otherwise limit the qualified providers that are available to the patient. The hospital must
document in the patient's record that the list was presented to the patient or to the individual
acting on the patient's behalf.