HOSPITAL SWING BEDS

Senate Bill 446 without amendment

Sponsor:  Sen. Darwin L. Booher

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 3-17-14

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 446 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 2-12-14

The bill would allow a rural hospital that owns or operates a hospital long-term care unit to use a "swing bed" to provide extended care services to a patient in certain situations.

Senate Bill 446 would amend the Rural Hospitals Patient Choice Act within the Public Health Code.  Under state law, smaller and rural hospitals meeting certain state and federal requirements can apply for a Certificate of Need to establish an extended care services program.  The program allows an eligible hospital to operate up to 10 beds as "swing beds" and caps the allowable swing bed patient days per hospital per state fiscal year at 1,825.  Generally speaking, a "swing bed" refers to a bed that a hospital can use either as an acute care bed or a skilled nursing care bed.  

Currently, a hospital is prohibited from providing extended care services in a swing bed if the hospital owns or operates a hospital long-term care unit that has beds available.  The bill would apply this prohibition to a situation in which the long-term care unit has beds available at the time a patient requires admission for extended care services.  (For instance, a patient admitted to a swing bed in a hospital with an attached nursing home would not have to be automatically transferred to the nursing home just because a bed became available; the patient could continue to receive skilled nursing care in the swing bed.  Such flexibility could be useful when a patient is close to being discharged.)

MCL 333.22210

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill has no fiscal implications for the Michigan Department of Community Health or local units of government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.