Sec. 21418.

(1) Beginning 90 days after the department promulgates rules to implement this section, a hospice or hospice residence that provides services in a patient's private home shall establish and implement a written controlled substance disposal policy establishing procedures to be followed to mitigate the diversion of controlled substances that are prescribed to the patient. The policy must include all of the following:

(a) A procedure for offering to assist with the disposal of a controlled substance that is prescribed to a patient as part of the patient's hospice plan of care.

(b) A requirement that an employee provide the patient or the patient's family education on safe disposal locations for a controlled substance and techniques for the safe disposal of a controlled substance when the controlled substance is no longer needed by the patient or at the time of death.

(c) Procedures for offering assistance with the disposal of a controlled substance to a patient who revokes hospice care and services.

(d) A requirement that an employee document whether the patient or the patient's family accepted or refused an offer to assist with the disposal of a controlled substance when the controlled substance is no longer needed by the patient or at the time of death.

(e) A requirement that if an employee assists with the disposal of a controlled substance, the disposal is performed and witnessed in any of the following ways:

(i) Performed by the employee and witnessed by another competent adult.

(ii) Performed by the patient or the patient's family and witnessed by another competent adult.

(f) A requirement that if an employee assists with the disposal of a controlled substance, the disposal must be performed in the patient's private home.

(2) A hospice or hospice residence that provides services in a patient's private home shall ensure that all of the following are met within 5 days of admission to the hospice or hospice residence and providing hospice care or services to the patient in the patient's private home:

(a) That a copy of the controlled substance disposal policy established under subsection (1) is distributed to the patient or the patient's family and that an offer to discuss the procedures included in the policy is made to the patient and the patient's family.

(b) That the patient and the patient's family are informed that an employee will offer to assist with the disposal of a controlled substance that is included in the patient's hospice plan of care at the time of death or when the controlled substance is no longer needed by the patient.

(3) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section, including, but not limited to, rules governing the safe disposal of controlled substances in a patient's private home.

(4) As used in this section:

(a) "At the time of death" means within 72 hours after the patient's death.

(b) "Employee" means a registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse who is employed by the hospice or hospice residence.

(c) "Licensed practical nurse" means an individual who is licensed to engage in the practice of nursing as a licensed practical nurse under article 15.

(d) "Patient's family" means a relative or caregiver who has been designated by the patient.

(e) "Patient's private home" means a patient's home. As used in this subdivision, "home" does not include a residence established by a patient in a health facility or agency or a residence established by a patient in an adult foster care facility licensed under the adult foster care facility licensing act, 1979 PA 218, MCL 400.701 to 400.737.

(f) "Registered professional nurse" means that term as defined in section 17201.

History: Add. 2018, Act 396, Eff. Mar. 19, 2019 Popular Name: Act 368