1. (a) A hospital may discharge a patient:

   1. (1) Entirely;
   2. (2) To another level of care, treatment, or services;
   3. (3) To different health professionals; or
   4. (4) To settings for continued services.
2. (b) A hospital's process for transfer or discharge shall be based on a patient's assessed needs.

3. (c) To facilitate discharge or transfer, the hospital shall:

   1. (1) Assess a patient's needs;
   2. (2) Plan for discharge or transfer;
   3. (3) Facilitate the discharge or transfer process;
   4. (4) Give the patient or person responsible for providing continuing care to the patient written discharge instructions in a form the patient can understand; and
   5. (5) Help to ensure that continuity of care, treatment, and services is maintained.
4. (d) If a hospital fails to comply with the requirements of this section, the Secretary may impose a civil money penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each failure to comply.
5. (e) A hospital may appeal a civil money penalty imposed under subsection (c) of this section in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article.

Added by Acts 2005, c. 296, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2005.