Section 481.58.12. Admission, transfer, and discharge.

         58.12(1) General admission policies.

            a.               No resident shall be admitted or retained in a nursing facility who is in need of greater services than the facility can provide. (II, III)

            b.               No nursing facility shall admit more residents than the number of beds for which it is licensed, except guest rooms for visitors. (II, III)

            c.               There shall be no more beds erected than is stipulated on the license. (II, III)

            d.               There shall be no more beds erected in a room than its size and other characteristics will permit. (II, III)

            e.               The admission of a resident to a nursing facility shall not give the facility or any employee of the facility the right to manage, use, or dispose of any property of the resident except with the written authorization of the resident or the resident’s legal representative. (III)

            f.                The admission of a resident shall not grant the nursing facility the authority or responsibility to manage the personal affairs of the resident except as may be necessary for the safety of the resident and safe and orderly management of the facility as required by these rules. (III)

            g.               A nursing facility shall provide for the safekeeping of personal effects, funds, and other property of its residents. The facility may require that items of exceptional value or which would convey unreasonable responsibilities to the licensee be removed from the premises of the facility for safekeeping. (III)

            h.               Rescinded, effective 7/14/82.

            i.                Funds or properties received by the nursing facility belonging to or due a resident, expendable for the resident’s account, shall be trust funds. (III)

            j.                Infants and children under the age of 16 shall not be admitted to health care facilities for adults unless given prior written approval by the department. A distinct part of a health care facility, segregated from the adult section, may be established based on a program of care submitted by the licensee or applicant which is commensurate with the needs of the residents of the health care facility and has received the department’s review and approval. (III)

            k.               No health care facility, and no owner, administrator, employee or representative thereof shall act as guardian, trustee, or conservator for any resident’s property, unless such resident is related to the person acting as guardian within the third degree of consanguinity.

            l.                Within 30 days of a resident’s admission to a health care facility receiving reimbursement through the medical assistance program under Iowa Code chapter 249A, the facility shall ask the resident or the resident’s personal representative whether the resident is a veteran and shall document the response. If the facility determines that the resident is a potential veteran, the facility shall report the resident’s name along with the names of the resident’s spouse and any dependent children, as well as the name of the contact person for this information, to the Iowa department of veterans affairs. Where appropriate, the facility may also report such information to the Iowa department of human services.

If a resident is eligible for benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other third-party payor, the facility first shall seek reimbursement from the identified payor source before seeking reimbursement from the medical assistance program established under Iowa Code chapter 249A.

The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to the admission of an individual as a resident to a state mental health institute for acute psychiatric care or to the admission of an individual to the Iowa Veterans Home. (II, III)

         58.12(2) Discharge or transfer.

            a.               Prior notification shall be made to the resident, as well as the resident’s next of kin, legal representative, attending physician, and sponsoring agency, if any, prior to transfer or discharge of any resident. (III)

            b.               Proper arrangements shall be made by the nursing facility for the welfare of the resident prior to transfer or discharge in the event of an emergency or inability to reach the next of kin or legal representative. (III)

            c.               The licensee shall not refuse to discharge or transfer a resident when the physician, family, resident, or legal representative requests such a discharge or transfer. (II, III)

            d.               Advance notification will be made to the receiving facility prior to the transfer of any resident. (III)

            e.               When a resident is transferred or discharged, the appropriate record as set forth in 58.15(2)“k” of these rules will accompany the resident. (II, III)

            f.                Prior to the transfer or discharge of a resident to another health care facility, arrangements to provide for continuity of care shall be made with the facility to which the resident is being sent. (II, III)