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 specifies that hospitals must notify designated caregivers about patient discharges and provide them with necessary aftercare instructions. It clarifies that caregivers do not have the authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of patients and does not create a private right of action against hospitals or caregivers for compliance failures. The existing section of K.S.A. 65-431a is repealed, and the new provisions will take effect upon publication in the statute book.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