General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5535
February Session, 2014 *_____HB05535PH____032514____*
General Assembly
Substitute Bill No. 5535
February Session, 2014
*_____HB05535PH____032514____*
AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE OF A PATIENT'S OBSERVATION STATUS AND NOTICE CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE AND COUNSELING SERVICES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Each hospital, as defined in section 19a-490 of the general statutes, shall provide oral and written notice to each patient that the hospital places in observation status of such placement not later than twenty-four hours after such placement. Such oral and written notices shall include: (1) A statement that the patient is not admitted to the hospital but is under observation status; (2) a statement that observation status may affect the patient's Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance coverage for (A) hospital services, including medications and pharmaceutical supplies, or (B) home or community-based care or care at a skilled nursing facility upon the patient's discharge; and (3) a recommendation that the patient contact his or her health insurance provider or the Office of the Healthcare Advocate to better understand the implications of placement in observation status.
(b) The written notice described in subsection (a) of this section shall be signed and dated by the patient receiving the notice or such patient's legal guardian, conservator or other authorized representative.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) (a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each outpatient provider of health care services or counseling services shall provide written notice to recipients of such services concerning the qualifications of persons providing such services on behalf of the provider and a description of the services provided.
(b) The notice required by subsection (a) of this section shall include: (1) A description of the services offered by the provider; and (2) a list of the licenses, certifications and other professional qualifications relating to the services offered for each person employed by, or volunteering services for, such provider. If an employee or a volunteer for such provider does not possess a license, certification or professional qualifications relating to the services offered, such notice shall contain a statement of that fact. For providers that primarily provide such services in a facility, the notice described in this section, shall be posted in a prominent place in the facility that is accessible to persons receiving services. For providers that provide such services in locations outside of a facility or in a facility other than one in which such providers are based, a representative of the provider offering services on behalf of the provider shall give written notice of the representative's licenses, certifications or other professional qualifications relating to the services offered or a statement that such representative possesses no such license, certification or qualifications.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to hospitals, inpatient health care facilities, home health care providers, federally qualified health centers or entities offering religious services.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2014 New section
Sec. 2 October 1, 2014 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2014
New section
Sec. 2
October 1, 2014
New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In section 2(b), the phrase "such entity is based" was changed to "such providers are based", for internal consistency.
PH Joint Favorable Subst.
PH
Joint Favorable Subst.