§ 23-17.5-25. Notice on bed-hold policy and readmission. (a) Notice before transfer. Before a resident of a nursing facility is transferred for hospitalization or therapeutic leave, a nursing facility must provide written information to the resident and a family member or legal representative concerning:

(1) The provisions of the medical assistance program state plan regarding the period (if any) during which the resident will be permitted under the state plan to return and resume residence in the facility; and

(2) The policies of the facility regarding the period, which policies must be consistent with subsection (c).

(b) Notice upon transfer. At the time of the transfer of a resident to a hospital or for therapeutic leave, a nursing facility must provide written notice to the resident and a family member or legal representative of the duration of any period described in subsection (c).

(c) Permitting resident to return. A nursing facility must establish and follow a written policy under which a resident:

(1) Who is transferred from the facility for hospitalization or therapeutic leave; and

(2) Whose hospitalization or therapeutic leave exceeds a period paid for under the state plan for the holding of a bed in the facility for the resident, will be permitted to be readmitted to the facility immediately upon the first availability of a bed of appropriate level of care in a semi-private room in the facility if at the time of readmission, the resident requires the services provided by the facility.

(d) Any nursing facility that accepts private payment for purposes of reserving a bed in the facility for a resident who is transferred from the facility for hospitalization or other institutional therapeutic leave, and that resident's medical and health care is being paid for by the state medical assistance program, shall not charge an amount per day for reserving a bed in the facility that exceeds the facility's current Medicaid daily rate; for a minimum of the first five (5) days of said hospitalization or the institutional therapeutic leave.

(e) The departments of human services and health shall receive, on a monthly basis, the names from each nursing home of those persons awaiting readmission under these provisions.

(f) The department of health shall promulgate regulations governing these provisions.

History of Section. (P.L. 1989, ch. 270, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 228, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 303, § 1.)