Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Louisiana Department of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations which allow payment for up to seven leave-of-absence days per spell of illness, at a minimum, for each nursing home facility resident who is Medicaid-eligible, when the resident has been admitted as an inpatient to another licensed health care facility. Further, the department shall promulgate rules and regulations which allow payment for up to fifteen leave-of-absence days per year, at a minimum, for each nursing facility resident who is Medicaid-eligible, when the resident leaves such nursing facility on home leave.

           Acts 1997, No. 1397, §1, eff. July 1, 1998.