Section 19-308.8 - Discharge or transfer of patients.
§ 19-308.8. Discharge or transfer of patients.
(a) In general.- A hospital may discharge a patient:
(1) Entirely;
(2) To another level of care, treatment, or services;
(3) To different health professionals; or
(4) To settings for continued services.
(b) Process based on patient's needs.- A hospital's process for transfer or discharge shall be based on a patient's assessed needs.
(c) Facilitating transfer or discharge process.- To facilitate discharge or transfer, the hospital shall:
(1) Assess a patient's needs;
(2) Plan for discharge or transfer;
(3) Facilitate the discharge or transfer process;
(4) Give the patient or person responsible for providing continuing care to the patient written discharge instructions in a form the patient can understand; and
(5) Help to ensure that continuity of care, treatment, and services is maintained.
(d) Penalties.- If a hospital fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each failure to comply.
(e) Appeal.- A hospital may appeal a civil money penalty imposed under subsection (c) of this section in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.
[2005, ch. 296.]