Federal Bed Hold Policies for Nursing Homes
Pursuant to federal regulation contained in 42 CFR 483.15(d), notice of bed-hold policy and return—(1) Notice before transfer. Before a nursing facility transfers a resident to a hospital or the resident goes on therapeutic leave, the nursing facility must provide written information to the resident or resident representative that specifies—
(i) The duration of the state bed-hold policy, if any, during which the resident is permitted to return and resume residence in the nursing facility;
(ii) The reserve bed payment policy in the state plan, under §447.40 of this chapter, if any;
(iii) The nursing facility’s policies regarding bed-hold periods, which must be consistent with paragraph (c)(3) of this section, permitting a resident to return; and
(iv) The information specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
More Information About Federal Nursing Home Bed Hold Regulations
(2) Bed-hold notice upon transfer. At the time of transfer of a resident for hospitalization or therapeutic leave, a nursing facility must provide to the resident and the resident representative written notice which specifies the duration of the bed-hold policy described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
(e)(1) Permitting residents to return to facility. A facility must establish and follow a written policy on permitting residents to return to the facility after they are hospitalized or placed on therapeutic leave. The policy must provide for the following.
(i) A resident, whose hospitalization or therapeutic leave exceeds the bed-hold period under the State plan, returns to the facility to their previous room if available or immediately upon the first availability of a bed in a semi-private room if the resident
(A) Requires the services provided by the facility; and
(B) Is eligible for Medicare skilled nursing facility services or Medicaid nursing facility services.
(ii) If the facility that determines that a resident who was transferred with an expectation of returning to the facility cannot return to the facility, the facility must comply with the requirements of paragraph (c) as they apply to discharges.
(2) Readmission to a composite distinct part. When the facility to which a resident returns is a composite distinct part (as defined in §483.5), the resident must be permitted to return to an available bed in the particular location of the composite distinct part in which he or she resided previously. If a bed is not available in that location at the time of return, the resident must be given the option to return to that location upon the first availability of a bed there.
KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com
Please contact elder abuse and neglect Attorney Kenneth LaBore with any questions you may have at 612-743-9048.