Bill Text: VA SB281 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Medicare patients; patient notice of observation or outpatient status.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-11 - Incorporated by Education and Health [SB281 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SB281-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §32.1-137.04 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§32.1-137.04. Patient notice of observation or outpatient status.
A. A hospital shall provide oral and written notice to any
patient placed under observation or in any other outpatient status, or to such
patient's authorized representative, informing the patient of his placement in
such status if (i) the patient receives onsite services from the hospital and
(ii) such onsite services include a hospital bed and meals that are provided in
an area of the hospital other than the emergency department. Such oral and
written notice shall be provided not later than
24 36
hours after placement under observation or in any other outpatient status
unless the patient has been discharged or has left the hospital prior to the
expiration of such 24-hour 36-hour period.
B. Such written notice shall be written in clear, understandable language and printed in at least 14-point type. The written notice shall include:
1. A statement that the patient is not admitted to the hospital as an inpatient but is under observation or in such other outpatient status;
2. A statement that such observation or other outpatient status may affect the patient's Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance coverage of (i) the current hospital services, including medications and pharmaceutical supplies, and (ii) care at a skilled nursing facility or home or community-based care upon the patient's discharge from the hospital; and
3. A statement that the patient should contact the identified
hospital representative, or his health insurance plan, or the appropriate Center for Medicare &
Medicaid Services Beneficiary and Family-Centered Care Quality Improvement
Organization for more information on his observation or
other outpatient status and any available recourse.
C. For any patient placed under observation or in any other outpatient status who is entitled to have payment made under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1395 et seq.), a hospital providing written notice and oral explanation of such notice to the patient which satisfies the provisions of 42 U.S.C. §1395cc (a)(1)(Y) shall be deemed to have satisfied the provisions of this section.
