§ 2805-w. Patient notice of observation services. 1. Every general hospital shall provide patients who are placed into observation services by such general hospital with an oral and written notice within twenty-four hours of such placement that the patient is not admitted to the hospital and is under observation status. Such written notice shall be signed by the patient or the patient's legal representative to acknowledge receipt and shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

Terms Used In N.Y. Public Health Law 2805-W

  • General hospital: means a hospital engaged in providing medical or medical and surgical services primarily to in-patients by or under the supervision of a physician on a twenty-four hour basis with provisions for admission or treatment of persons in need of emergency care and with an organized medical staff and nursing service, including facilities providing services relating to particular diseases, injuries, conditions or deformities. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2801
  • Hospital: means a facility or institution engaged principally in providing services by or under the supervision of a physician or, in the case of a dental clinic or dental dispensary, of a dentist, or, in the case of a midwifery birth center, of a midwife, for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition, including, but not limited to, a general hospital, public health center, diagnostic center, treatment center, a rural emergency hospital under 42 USC 1395x(kkk), or successor provisions, dental clinic, dental dispensary, rehabilitation center other than a facility used solely for vocational rehabilitation, nursing home, tuberculosis hospital, chronic disease hospital, maternity hospital, midwifery birth center, lying-in-asylum, out-patient department, out-patient lodge, dispensary and a laboratory or central service facility serving one or more such institutions, but the term hospital shall not include an institution, sanitarium or other facility engaged principally in providing services for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of mental disability and which is subject to the powers of visitation, examination, inspection and investigation of the department of mental hygiene except for those distinct parts of such a facility which provide hospital service. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2801

(a) a statement that observation status may affect the patient's Medicare, Medicaid and/or private insurance coverage for the current hospital services, including medications and other pharmaceutical supplies, as well as coverage for any subsequent discharge to a skilled nursing facility or home and community based care; and

(b) that the patient should contact his or her insurance plan to better understand the implications of being placed in observation status.

2. The commissioner shall develop and make available guidance on the notice as described in this section.