The bill amends the Kansas Lay Caregiver Act, requiring the Department of Health and Environment to audit hospitals for compliance with the act and report the findings to the legislature annually starting in 2026. Key definitions are provided, including "aftercare," "caregiver," "discharge," and "patient," which clarify the roles and responsibilities of caregivers in relation to patients discharged from hospitals. The bill mandates that hospitals offer patients or their legal guardians the opportunity to designate a caregiver upon admission and allows for changes to this designation prior to discharge.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of hospitals in notifying caregivers about patient discharges and providing necessary aftercare instructions. It specifies that the designation of a caregiver does not confer decision-making authority over the patient's healthcare and does not create grounds for legal action against hospitals or caregivers for compliance failures. The existing section of K.S.A. 65-431a is repealed, and the new provisions are set to take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 65-431a
As introduced: 65-431a