Nursing Home Residents Have the Right to Information About Services

Pursuant to 42 CFR 483.10(g)(18), the facility must inform each resident before, or at the time of admission, and periodically during the resident’s stay, of services available in the facility and of charges for those services, including any charges for services not covered under Medicare/Medicaid or by the facility’s per diem rate.

(i) Where changes in coverage are made to items and services covered by Medicare and/or by the Medicaid State plan, the facility must provide notice to residents of the change as soon as is reasonably possible.

(ii) Where changes are made to charges for other items and services that the facility offers, the facility must inform the resident in writing at least 60 days prior to implementation of the change.

Facilities Must Refund Charges for Unused Services

(iii) If a resident dies or is hospitalized or is transferred and does not return to the facility, the facility must refund to the resident, resident representative, or estate, as applicable, any deposit or charges already paid, less the facility’s per diem rate, for the days the resident actually resided or reserved or retained a bed in the facility, regardless of any minimum stay or discharge notice requirements.

(iv) The facility must refund to the resident or resident representative any and all refunds due the resident within 30 days from the resident’s date of discharge from the facility.

(v) The terms of an admission contract by or on behalf of an individual seeking admission to the facility must not conflict with the requirements of these regulations.

KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com

Please contact elder abuse and neglect Attorney Kenneth LaBore with any questions you may have at 612-743-9048.