Transfer and Discharge Refusals by Hospitalized Member

Provider Type

  • Physicians 
  • Participating Physician Groups (PPG)
  • Hospitals
  • Ancillary

Participating Facility

Health Net recommends the following procedure to protect the participating physician group (PPG) and Health Net from liability in cases where a member or the admitting physician at a nonparticipating facility within a 30-mile radius of the member's home refuses to allow a transfer or discharge. This procedure is applicable to either transfer refusal or discharge refusal:

  1. The PPG physician must contact the attending physician. As soon as the PPG is aware of the hospitalization, the PPG physician must advise the attending physician that transfer of the member to a participating facility must occur as soon as the condition is stable.
  2. If the attending physician refuses to transfer, the PPG physician must monitor the member's condition through the attending physician to determine when the member can be transferred to a participating facility.
  3. The physician, in conjunction with the PPG case manager, must collaborate with the attending physician to determine a facility appropriate for transfer. If indicated, an appropriate specialist must be identified to contact the attending physician at the current hospital to discuss the case and the member's stability for transfer.
  4. At times, Health Net may request that the member be transferred to an in-network facility. If the accepting physician (or specialist) and attending physician agree that the member is stable for transfer and a bed is available at the accepting facility, but the attending physician refuses to transfer, the PPG (or Health Net) must issue a facility non-payment letter advising the facility of non-payment, effective the date agreed upon by both physicians that the member was stable for transfer. Health Net and PPGs ensure that a participating physician is available 24 hours a day to authorize medically necessary post-stabilization care and coordinate the transfer of stabilized members in an emergency department, if necessary.
  • Health Net does not cover continued hospitalization if the accepting physician (or matching specialist) and attending physician agree that member is stable for transfer and a bed is available at the accepting facility, but the member refuses to transfer. The PPG must issue a member denial letter for refusal to transfer (PDF). Member denial is effective 24 hours after the date the member receives the letter.