Section 18.20.530 - Discharge policies(a) A hospital shall adopt and maintain written discharge policies. The policies must comply with AS 18.20.500 - 18.20.590.(b) The discharge policies of a hospital must specify the requirements for documenting the identity of a patient's designated caregiver and the details of the discharge plan for the patient, including professional follow-up as specified in the discharge plan.(c) The discharge policies of a hospital may incorporate established evidence-based practices that include(1) standards for accreditation adopted by a nationally recognized hospital accreditation organization; or(2) the conditions of participation for hospitals adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.(d) The discharge policies of a hospital must ensure that the discharge planning is appropriate to the condition of the patient, and the hospital shall interpret the discharge policies in a manner and as necessary to meet the needs and condition of the patient and the abilities of the patient's designated caregiver.(e)AS 18.20.500 - 18.20.590 do not require that a hospital adopt discharge policies that would (1) delay a patient's discharge or transfer to another facility; or(2) require the disclosure of protected health information without obtaining a patient's consent as required by state and federal laws governing health information privacy and security.Added by SLA 2016, ch. 47,sec. 1, eff. 1/1/2017.