SECTION 1. Definitions

“Hospital” is defined for the purposes of this Act as a facility licensed under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 111.

“After-Care” is defined for the purposes of this Act as any assistance provided by a caregiver to a patient under this Act after the patient’s discharge from a hospital.  Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, assisting with basic activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), or carrying out medical/nursing tasks, such as managing wound care, assisting in administering medications, and operating medical equipment.

“Caregiver” is defined for the purposes of this Act as any individual duly designated as a caregiver by a patient under this Act who provides after-care assistance to a patient living in his or her residence.  A designated caregiver may include, but is not limited to, a relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who has a significant relationship with the patient.

“Discharge” is defined for the purposes of this Act as a patient’s exit or release from a hospital to the patient’s residence following an inpatient admission.

“Entry” is defined for the purposes of this Act as a patient’s admission into a hospital for the purposes of medical care.

“Residence” is defined for the purposes of this Act as a dwelling that the patient considers to be his or her home.  A “residence” for the purposes of this Act shall not include any rehabilitation facility, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

SECTION 2. Caregiver—Opportunity to Designate.

A hospital shall provide each patient or, if applicable, the patient’s legal guardian with at least one opportunity to designate at least one caregiver under this Act no later than twenty-four (24) hours following the patient’s entry into a hospital and prior to the patient’s discharge or transfer to another facility.

In the event that the patient is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated upon his or her entry into a hospital, the hospital shall provide such patient or his/her legal guardian with an opportunity to designate a caregiver within twenty-four (24) hours following the patient’s recovery of his or her consciousness or capacity.

In the event that the patient or the patient’s legal guardian declines to designate a caregiver under the Act, the hospital shall promptly document this in the patient’s medical record.

In the event that the patient or the patient’s legal guardian designates an individual as a caregiver under this Act:

The hospital shall promptly request the written consent of the patient or the patient’s legal guardian to release medical information to the patient’s designated caregiver following the hospital’s established procedures for releasing personal health information and in compliance with all federal and state laws.

If the patient or the patient’s legal guardian declines to consent to release medical information to the patient’s designated caregiver, the hospital is not required to provide notice to the caregiver under Section 3 of this Act or provide information contained in the patient’s discharge plan under Section 4 of this Act.

The hospital shall record the patient’s designation of caregiver, the relationship of the designated caregiver to the patient, and the name, telephone number, and address of the patient’s designated caregiver in the patient’s medical record.

A patient may elect to change his or her designated caregiver at any time, and the hospital must record this change in the patient’s medical record within twenty-four (24) hours.

A designation of a caregiver by a patient or a patient’s legal guardian under this Section does not obligate any individual to perform any after-care tasks for any patient.

This section shall not be construed to require a patient or a patient’s legal guardian to designate any individual as a caregiver as defined by this Act.             

SECTION 3. Notice to Designated Caregiver.

A hospital shall notify the patient’s designated caregiver of the patient’s discharge or transfer to another hospital or facility licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as soon as possible, which may be after the patient’s physician issues a discharge order, and not later than four (4) hours prior to the patient’s actual discharge or transfer to such facility.

SECTION 4.  Instruction to Designated Caregiver.

As soon as possible and not later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to a patient’s discharge from a hospital, the hospital shall consult with the designated caregiver along with the patient regarding the caregiver’s capabilities and limitations and issue a discharge plan that describes a patient’s after-care needs at his or her residence.

At minimum, a discharge plan shall include:

The name and contact information of the caregiver designated under this Act;

A description of all after-care tasks necessary to maintain the patient’s ability to reside at home, taking into account the capabilities and limitations of the caregiver; and

Contact information for any health care, community resources, and long-term services and supports necessary to successfully carry out the patient’s discharge plan.

The hospital issuing the discharge plan must provide caregivers with instruction in all after-care tasks described in the discharge plan.

At minimum, such instruction shall include:

A live demonstration of the tasks performed by a hospital employee or individual with whom the hospital has a contractual relationship authorized to perform the after-care task, provided in a culturally competent manner and in accordance with the hospital’s requirements to provide language access services under state and federal law;

An opportunity for the caregiver and patient to ask questions about the after-care tasks; and

Answers to the caregiver’s and patient’s questions provided in a culturally competent manner and in accordance with the hospital’s requirements to provide language access services under state and federal law.

Any instruction required under this Act shall be documented in the patient’s medical record, including, at minimum, the date, time, and contents of the instruction.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, regulations to further define the content and scope of any instruction provided to caregivers under this Act.

Section 5.  Non-Interference with Powers of Existing Health Care Directives.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to interfere with the rights of an agent operating under a valid health care directive under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 201D.

SECTION 6. Limitations

Nothing in this act shall be construed to create a private right of action against a hospital, a hospital employee, or an individual, with whom a hospital has a contractual relationship, or to otherwise supersede or replace exiting rights or remedies under any other provision of law.

SECTION 7. Effective Date.

This Act shall be effective immediately upon ratification.