100 STAT. 1990
PUBLIC LAW 99-509—OCT. 21, 1986 DISCHARGE PLANNING PROCESS
"(eeXD A discharge planning process of a hospital shall be considered sufficient if it is applicable to services furnished by the hospital to individuals entitled to benefits under this title and if it meets the guidelines and standards established by the Secretary under paragraph (2). "(2) The Secretary shall develop guidelines and standards for the discharge planning process in order to ensure a timely and smooth transition to the most appropriate type of and setting for posthospital or rehabilitative care. The guidelines and standards shall include the following: "(A) The hospital must identify, at an early stage of hospitalization, those patients who are likely to suffer adverse health consequences upon discharge in the absence of adequate
- discharge planning.
"(B) Hospitals must provide a discharge planning evaluation ' for patients identified under subparagraph (A) and for other patients upon the request of the patient, patient's representative, or patient's physician. "(C) Any discharge planning evaluation must be made on a timely basis to ensure that appropriate arrangements for posthospital care will be made before discharge and to avoid unnecessary delays in discharge. "(D) A discharge planning evaluation must include an evaluation of a patient's likely need for appropriate post-hospital services and the availability of those services. "(E) The discharge planning evaluation must be included in the patient's medical record for use in establishing an appropriate discharge plan and the results of the evaluation must be discussed with the patient (or the patient's representative). "(F) Upon the request of a patient s physician, the hospital must arrange for the development and initial implementation of a discharge plan for the patient. "(G) Any discharge planning evaluation or discharge plan required under this paragraph must be developed by, or under the supervision of, a registered professional nurse, social ' worker, or other appropriately qualified personnel." (3) EFFECT OF ACCREDITATION.—The second sentence of section
42 USC 1395x note.
1865(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb(a)) is amended— (A) by inserting ", requires a discharge planning process (or imposes another requirement which serves substantially the same purpose)," after "the same purpose)", and
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(B) by inserting "clause (A) or (B) o f after "comply also with". (4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to hospitals as of one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) REVIEW OF STANDARDS FOR MEDICARE CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION FOR ASSURING QUALITY OF INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES,—The
42 USC 1395. Reports.
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall arrange for a study of the adequacy of the standards used for hospitals, for purposes of meeting the conditions of participation under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, in assuring the quality of services furnished in hospitals. The Secretary shall report to Congress on the results of the study by not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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