2015 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 23 - Health and Safety
Chapter 23-17.26 - Comprehensive Discharge Planning
Section 23-17.26-3 - Comprehensive discharge planning.

§ 23-17.26-3 Comprehensive discharge planning. – (a) On or before July 1, 2015, each hospital operating in the State of Rhode Island shall submit to the director:

(1) Evidence of participation in a high-quality comprehensive discharge planning and transitions improvement project operated by a nonprofit organization in this state; or

(2) A plan for the provision of comprehensive discharge planning and information to be shared with patients transitioning from the hospitals care. Such plan shall contain the adoption of evidence-based practices including, but not limited to:

(i) Providing in-hospital education prior to discharge;

(ii) Ensuring patient involvement such that, at discharge, patients and caregivers understand the patient's conditions and medications and have a point of contact for follow-up questions;

(iii) Attempting to identify patients' primary care providers and assisting with scheduling post-hospital follow-up appointments prior to patient discharge;

(iv) Expanding the transmission of the department of health's continuity of care form, or successor program, to include primary care providers' receipt of information at patient discharge when the primary care provider is identified by the patient; and

(v) Coordinating and improving communication with outpatient providers.

(3) The discharge plan and transition process shall also be made for patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, which plan and transition process shall include the elements contained in subsections (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section, as applicable. In addition, such discharge plan and transition process shall also include:

(i) Assistance, with patient consent, in securing at least one follow-up appointment for the patient within seven (7) days of discharge, as clinically appropriate: (A) With a facility licensed by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to provide treatment of substance use disorders; (B) With a certified recovery coach; (C) With a licensed clinician with expertise in the treatment of substance use disorders; or (D) With a Rhode Island licensed hospital with a designated program for the treatment of substance use disorders. The patient shall be informed of said appointment prior to the patient being discharged from the hospital;

(ii) In the absence of a scheduled follow-up appointment pursuant to subsection (a)(3)(i), every reasonable effort shall be made to contact the patient within thirty (30) days post-discharge to provide the patient with a referral and other such assistance as the patient needs to obtain a follow-up appointment; and

(iii) That the patient receives information about the real-time availability of appropriate in-patient and out-patient services in Rhode Island.

(4) On or before November 1, 2014, the director of the department of health shall develop and disseminate to all hospitals, health care clinics, urgent care centers, and emergency room diversion facilities a model discharge plan and transition process for patients with opioid and other substance use disorders. This model plan may be used as a guide, but may be amended and modified to meet the specific needs of each hospital, health care clinic, urgent care center and emergency room diversion facility.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2011, ch. 114, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 108, § 3; P.L. 2014, ch. 130, § 3.)