Discharge, Transfer and Discharge Summary
Sets out when the Agency may discharge a living patient (a move out of the service area or a transfer, no longer terminally ill, or for cause after the required steps), the physician's discharge order from the Medical Director, consultation with the attending physician, discharge planning, the notices the patient receives (including the Medicare notice of termination and the right to a quick review by the BFCC-QIO), the live discharge or transfer summary California requires, what is sent to the next provider, and the 30-day record completion rule.
- Policy number
- CA-HSP-DC-01
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 22 CCR §74892(w)(1)
- Library
- California hospice · 60 policies
- Category
- Hospice care
- Sections
- 19
In short
- We discharge a living patient only if they move out of our area or transfer, are no longer terminally ill, or for cause after every required step.
- The Medical Director writes the discharge order, and the patient's own doctor is consulted first.
- Plan early: referrals, medicines and equipment must be in place before care ends.
- Give written notice. Medicare patients get the CMS notice at least 2 days before services end and can ask the BFCC-QIO for a quick review.
- Send the discharge summary to the next provider and finish the record within 30 days.
What's inside
19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (22 CCR §74892(w)(1); 42 CFR §418.26)
- 5. Reasons for Live Discharge
- 6. Discharge for Cause
- 7. Discharge Planning
- 8. Notices to the Patient
- 9. The Discharge Order and the Live Discharge or Transfer Summary
- 10. Information Sent to the Next Provider
- 11. Notices to Medicare and Record Completion
- 12. Responsibilities
- 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 14. Staff Training
- 15. References
- 16. Related Policies and Forms
- 17. Approval
- 18. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me a live discharge. Who ordered it, was the attending physician consulted, and what is in the discharge summary?
- How do you plan for a patient whose condition has stabilized and who may no longer be eligible?
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