Hospital and Inpatient Facility Discharge Planning

Participating providers are required to work with hospitals and inpatient facilities (general acute care hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities) to create an appropriate discharge plan for Health Net members, including post-hospital care and member notification of patient rights.

Each hospital or inpatient facility must have a written discharge planning policy and process that includes:

• Counseling for the member or family members to prepare them for post-hospital or post-inpatient facility care, if needed.
• A transfer summary that accompanies the member upon transfer to a skilled nursing facility (SNF), intermediate-care facility, or a part-skilled nursing or intermediate care service unit of the hospital.
• Information regarding each medication dispensed must be given to the member upon discharge.

Members have the right to:

• Be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital or inpatient facility.
• Be informed that, if the member authorizes, a friend or family member may be provided information about the member's continuing health care requirements following discharge from the hospital or inpatient facility.
• Actively participate in decisions regarding medical care. To the extent permitted by law, participation includes the right to refuse treatment.
• Appropriate pain assessment and treatment.