CHAPTER 203
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 143
AS AMENDED BY
SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PATIENTS
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Amend § 1121(18), Chapter 11, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making insertions as shown by underlining and deletions as shown by strike through as follows:
§ 1121. Patient's rights.
(18) No patient or resident shall be transferred or discharged out of a facility except for medical reasons; inappropriate level of care; the patient’s or resident’s own welfare or the welfare of other patients or residents; or for nonpayment of justified charges. If good cause for transferal is reasonably believed to exist, the patient or resident shall be given at least 30 days' advance notice of the proposed action, together with the reasons for the decision, and the patient or resident shall have the opportunity for an impartial hearing to challenge such action if the patient or resident so desires. In emergency situations such notice need not be given. If a patient or resident is transferred out of a facility to an acute care facility or other specialized treatment facility, the facility must accept the patient or resident back into the facility when the resident no longer needs acute or specialized care and there is space available in the facility. If no space is available, the resident shall be accepted into the next available bed. For purposes of this section, “specialized treatment facility” shall mean a health care setting including, without limitation, settings licensed or certified pursuant to chapters 11, 22, 50 or 51 of Title 16. The Division shall issue an annual report on implementation of this sub-section.
Approved April 04, 2014