HB 208

Abstract

This Act renames the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection to the Division of Health Care Quality and strengthens the Division's ability to protect Delawareans receiving long term, acute, or outpatient health care. The new name better describes the Division which now includes not only long term care, but also acute and outpatient care facilities and agencies. The Division monitors the quality of care delivered by health care facilities and agencies throughout the state. Definitions are added to include the acute and outpatient care descriptions. Flexibility is added to the report the Division is required to prepare. This Act adds the ability of the Division to request and receive EMS records when performing an investigation that involves a transfer of a consumer, resident, or patient from one care setting to another. An interagency transfer form format is required to ensure better transitions of care for persons as they move from one health care setting to another. This Act gives the Division Director subpoena power so that appropriate records may be obtained during an investigation and so that witnesses may be compelled to appear for a hearing. Finally, this Act adds the requirement for Prescribed Pediatric Care Centers to complete the background checks on employees. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.