Bill
HB 2425
85(R) - 2017
House Public Health
Senate Health & Human Services
House Public Health
Senate Health & Human Services
Health
Health & Human Services
Healthcare
Vote Recommendation
Yes
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Positive
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Positive
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Neutral
Author(s)
Four Price
Sponsor(s)
Van Taylor
Bill Caption
Relating to a requirement that a hospital allow a patient to designate a caregiver to receive aftercare instruction regarding the patient.
Fiscal Notes
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
This bill would require a hospital to give a patient or a person authorized to make decisions for the patient an opportunity to designate a caregiver that would be notified of the patient’s transfer or discharge from the hospital. The hospital would be required to work with the patient and their caregiver to make a discharge plan that describes the patient’s aftercare needs. The hospital would be required to give the caregiver instructions on the aftercare tasks outlined in the patient’s discharge plan.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill is in keeping with our principles of limited government and personal responsibility. It is in keeping with limited government since it only requires that a hospital give a patient the opportunity to designate a caregiver and does not require that a patient designate a caregiver. The bill encourages personal responsibility by encouraging patients to have a plan for when they are discharged from the hospital, which would likely prevent a patient from having to be readmitted later due to a lack of sufficient care after discharge. For these reasons, we support this legislation.