A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RIGHTS OF NURSING HOME PATIENTS
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-17.5-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.5 entitled "Rights of Nursing Home Patients" is hereby amended to read as follows:
23-17.5-17. Transfer to another facility -- (a) Before transferring a patient to another facility or level of care within a facility, the patient shall be informed of the need for such a transfer and of any alternatives to such a transfer.
(b) A patient shall be transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, or for the patient's welfare or that of other patients or for nonpayment of the patient's stay.
(c) Reasonable advance notice of transfers to health care facilities other than hospitals shall be given to ensure orderly transfer or discharge and such actions shall be documented in the medical record.
(d) In the event that a facility seeks a variance from the required thirty (30) day notice of closure of the facility, reasonable advance notice of the hearing for the variance shall be given by the facility to the patient, his or her guardian, or relative so appointed or elected to be his or her decision-maker, and an opportunity to be present at the hearing shall be granted to the person so designated.
(e) In the event of the voluntary closure of a facility, which closure is the result of a variance from the required thirty (30) day notice of closure, granted by the director of the department of health, reasonable advance notice of the closure shall be given by the facility to the patient, his or her guardian, or relative so appointed or elected to be his or her decision-maker.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.