Sec. 21766.

(1) A nursing home shall execute a written contract solely with an applicant or patient or that applicant's or patient's guardian or legal representative authorized by law to have access to those portions of the patient's or applicant's income or assets available to pay for nursing home care, at each of the following times:

(a) At the time an individual is admitted to a nursing home.

(b) At the expiration of the term of a previous contract.

(c) At the time the source of payment for the patient's care changes.

(2) A nursing home shall not discharge or transfer a patient at the expiration of the term of a contract, except as provided in section 21773.

(3) A nursing home shall specifically notify in writing an applicant or patient or that applicant's or patient's guardian or legal representative of the availability or lack of availability of hospice care in the nursing home. This written notice shall be by way of a specific paragraph located in the written contract described in subsection (1) and shall require the applicant or patient or that applicant's or patient's guardian or legal representative to sign or initial the paragraph before execution of the written contract. As used in this subsection, "hospice" means that term as defined in section 20106(4).

(4) A nursing home shall provide a copy of the contract to the patient, the patient's representative, or the patient's legal representative or legal guardian at the time the contract is executed.

(5) For a patient supported by funds other than the patient's own funds, a nursing home shall make a copy of the contract available to the person providing the funds for the patient's support.

(6) For a patient whose care is reimbursed with public funds administered by the department of community health, a nursing home shall maintain a copy of the contract in the patient's file at the nursing home and upon request shall make a copy of the contract available to the department of community health.

(7) The nursing home shall ensure that the contract is written in clear and unambiguous language and is printed in not less than 12-point type. The form of the contract shall be prescribed by the department.

(8) The contract shall specify all of the following:

(a) The term of the contract.

(b) The services to be provided under the contract, including the availability of hospice or other special care, and the charges for the services.

(c) The services that may be provided to supplement the contract and the charges for the services.

(d) The sources liable for payments due under the contract.

(e) The amount of deposit paid and the general and foreseeable terms upon which the deposit will be held and refunded.

(f) The rights, duties, and obligations of the patient, except that the specification of a patient's rights may be furnished on a separate document that complies with the requirements of section 20201.

(9) The nursing home may require a patient's or applicant's guardian or legal representative who is authorized by law to have access to those portions of the patient's or applicant's income or assets available to pay for nursing home care to sign a contract without incurring personal financial liability other than for funds received in his or her legal capacity on behalf of the patient.

(10) A nursing home employee may request the appointment of a guardian for an individual applicant or patient only if the nursing home employee reasonably believes that the individual meets the legal requirements for the appointment of a guardian.

History: Add. 1978, Act 493, Eff. Mar. 30, 1979 ;-- Am. 1994, Act 73, Imd. Eff. Apr. 11, 1994 ;-- Am. 2001, Act 243, Eff. July 1, 2002 Popular Name: Act 368