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. The amended section defines key terms such as "aftercare," "caregiver," "discharge," and "patient," and outlines the responsibilities of hospitals regarding caregiver designation and patient discharge processes. Hospitals must provide patients or their legal guardians the opportunity to designate a caregiver upon admission and must notify the caregiver about the patient's discharge or transfer. Additionally, hospitals are required to educate caregivers on aftercare needs and provide discharge instructions.

The bill also clarifies that designating a caregiver does not confer any decision-making authority on the caregiver regarding the patient's healthcare and does not create a private right of action against hospitals for compliance failures. It removes certain legal language regarding the definitions of "hospital" and "nursing" facilities, and it emphasizes that the lack of contact with a designated caregiver should not delay patient discharge. The existing section of K.S.A. 65-431a is repealed, and the new provisions will take effect upon publication in the statute book.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 65-431a