SB 1536 Summary

• Hospitals must offer patients the opportunity to designate one lay caregiver (age 18+) following admission and prior to discharge to the patient's residence.

• Hospitals must record the caregiver designation, relationship, name, telephone number, and address in the patient's medical record and request written patient consent to release medical information to the designated caregiver.

• Hospitals must notify the designated lay caregiver of the patient's discharge or transfer to another licensed facility as soon as practicable, though inability to contact the caregiver cannot delay or interfere with medical care or discharge.

• Hospitals shall attempt to consult with the designated caregiver to prepare for aftercare and issue a discharge plan describing the patient's aftercare needs; failure to contact the caregiver cannot delay appropriate discharge.

• No state or federal funds may be used to pay lay caregivers for aftercare assistance, and no state or federal program funding shall be impacted by this act; designation is voluntary and creates no obligation for the designated individual to provide care.

• Effective November 1, 2014.