SB-1164, As Passed Senate, September 15, 2004                               

    SUBSTITUTE FOR

    SENATE BILL NO. 1164

(As amended, September 14, 2004)                                            

                                                                             A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled                                             

"Public health code,"                                                       

by amending section 21777 (MCL 333.21777).                                  

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 21777.  (1) If a patient  has a temporary absence is                  

2   temporarily absent from a nursing home for emergency medical                

3   treatment, the nursing home shall hold the bed open for 10 days             

4   for that patient in the patient's absence, if there is a                    

5   reasonable expectation that the patient will return within that             

6   period of time and the nursing home receives payment for each day           

7   during the absent period that the nursing home is at 100%                   

8   occupancy except for any bed being held open under this                     

9   subsection <<or subsection (2)>>.                                           

10      (2) If a patient  has a temporary absence is temporarily                   

11  absent from a nursing home for therapeutic reasons as approved by           

Senate Bill No. 1164 as amended September 14, 2004                          

1   a physician, the nursing home shall hold the bed open for 18                

2   days, if there is a reasonable expectation that the patient will            

3   return within that period of time and the nursing home receives             

4   payment for each day during the absent period that the nursing              

5   home is at 100% occupancy except for any bed being held open                

6   under this subsection <<or subsection (1)>>.  Temporary absences for therapeutic                                                                     

7   reasons are limited to 18 days per year.                                    

8       (3) When a patient's absence is longer than specified under                 

9   subsection (1) or (2), or both, the patient has the option to               

10  return to the nursing home for the next available bed.                      

11      (4) For title 19 patients, the department of  social                        

12  services community health shall continue funding for the                   

13  temporary absence as provided under subsections (1) and (2).