Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 85 - Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
Subchapter C - Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Criteria
Section I-8543 - Voluntary and Involuntary Transfers and Discharges

A. There are two types of transfers or discharges from an ICF/DD facility:

B. A planned or voluntary transfer or discharge occurs in the following situations:

C. The client and/or legal representative(s) must give their written consent to all non-emergency situations, however, written consent by the client and/or legal representative(s) is not required for those situations involving a planned downsizing of a state facility. Notification shall be made to the parents or legal representative(s) as soon as possible, if applicable.

D. Prior to a planned discharge of an individual, the ICF/DD's staff shall formulate an aftercare plan specifying the supports and resources to be provided to the individual. Aftercare plans shall be kept in the individual's record.

E. Prior to discharge, the ICF/DD's staff shall ensure that the individual is aware of and understands his/her aftercare plan and the department's representative shall be notified of the plans.

F. If the client is being discharged to another ICF/DD or provider, representatives from the staff of both the sending and receiving facilities or providers shall confer as often as necessary to share appropriate information regarding all aspects of the client's care and habilitation training. The transferring ICF/DD is responsible for developing a final summary of the client's developmental, behavioral, social, health and nutritional status, and with the consent of the client and/or legal representative, providing a copy to authorized persons and agencies. A copy of the summary shall be included in the client's record and must accompany the client upon discharge to another ICF/DD or provider. This summary shall include:

G. The ICF/DD shall have a written policy concerning unplanned, involuntary discharge. The policy shall ensure that emergency discharges initiated by the ICF/DD take place only when the health and safety of an individual or other individuals might be endangered by the individual's further placement at the agency.

H. The ICF/DD shall give immediate notice of the client's discharge. The resident and his/her responsible party and/or legal representative or interested family member if known and available, have the right to be notified in writing in a language and manner they understand of the transfer and discharge. The notice must be given no less than thirty days in advance of the proposed action, except that the notice may be given as soon as is practicable prior to the action in the case of an emergency. A copy of the notice must be placed in the client's clinical record and a copy transmitted to:

I. The resident, or his legal representative or interested family member, if known and available, has the right to appeal any transfer or discharge to the Department of Health and Hospitals, which shall provide a fair hearing in all such appeals.

J. The facility must ensure that the transfer or discharge is effectuated in a safe and orderly manner. The resident and his legal representative or interested family member, if known and available, shall be consulted in choosing another facility if facility placement is required.

K. When arranging for placement following an emergency discharge, an ICF/DD shall consult with the receiving ICF/DD and the regional office of OCDD, to ensure that the individual is placed in a program that reasonably meets the individual's needs. The ICF/DD shall have a written report detailing the circumstances leading to each unplanned discharge.