The following letter was sent from the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality/Survey & Certification Group regarding how health care providers are to report the transfer of patients to the state Ombudsman.
Ref: S&C: 17-27-NH
DATE: May 12, 2017
TO: State Survey Agency Directors
Effective Date: Immediately.
Notice of Transfer or Discharge
The regulation at 42 CFR 483.15(c)(3)(i) requires, in part, that before a facility transfers or discharges a resident, the facility must “notify the resident and the resident’s representative(s) of the transfer or discharge and the reasons for the move in writing and in a language and manner they understand….” The facility must also “…send a copy of the notice to a representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.” Sending a copy of the notice to a representative of the Office of the State Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman provides added protection to residents and ensures the Office of the State LTC Ombudsman is aware of facility practices and activities related to transfers and discharges. Specific requirements for transfers and discharges are outlined below.
Specific Requirements for Transfers and Discharges
Facility-Initiated Transfers and Discharges
In situations where the facility has decided to discharge the resident while the resident is still hospitalized, the facility must send a notice of discharge to the resident and resident representative, and must also send a copy of the discharge notice to a representative of the Office of the State LTC Ombudsman. Notice to the Office of the State LTC Ombudsman must occur at the same time the notice of discharge is provided to the resident and resident representative, even though, at the time of initial emergency transfer, sending a copy of the transfer notice to the ombudsman only needed to occur as soon as practicable as described below.
For any other types of facility-initiated discharges, the facility must provide notice of dischargeto the resident and resident representative along with a copy of the notice to the Office of the State LTC Ombudsman at least 30 days prior to the discharge or as soon as possible. The copy of the notice to the ombudsman must be sent at the same time notice is provided to the resident and resident representative.
Emergency Transfers
When a resident is temporarily transferred on an emergency basis to an acute care facility, notice of the transfer may be provided to the resident and resident representative as soon as practicable, according to 42 CFR 483.15(c)(4)(ii)(D). Copies of notices for emergency transfers must also still be sent to the ombudsman, but they may be sent when practicable, such as in a list of residents on a monthly basis.
Resident-Initiated Transfers and Discharges
A resident-initiated transfer or discharge means the resident or, if appropriate, the resident representative has provided verbal or written notice of intent to leave the facility. The medical record must contain documentation or evidence of the resident’s or resident representative’s verbal or written notice of intent to leave the facility. A resident’s expression of a general desire or goal to return home or to the community or elopement of a resident who is cognitively impaired should not be taken as notice of intent to leave the facility. For resident-initiated transfers or discharges, sending a copy of the notice to the ombudsman is not required.
Contact Information
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-andCertification/GuidanceforLawsAndRegulations/Nursing-Homes.html
Contact: Questions may be submitted to the NH Survey Development mailbox at NHSurveyDevelopment@cms.hhs.gov.
If you live in Iowa, here is the information needed for processing of non-involuntary discharge notices: Non-involuntary discharge notices must be transmitted to the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman per the new regulations. Notices may be transmitted via mail to 510 E. 12th Street, Suite 2, Des Moines, IA 50319, via fax to (515) 725-3313 or via email to cynthia.pederson@iowa.gov.