Governor signs CARE Act into law

From a June 16, 2016 press release from the Governor’s office

With Governor Ige and key legislators who supported the bill is Gerald Silva, representing AARP.

Governor David Ige today signed into law HB 2252 (ACT 69) that will require hospitals to adopt and maintain written discharge policies that are consistent with recent updates to federal regulations. The new law requires hospitals to explain and demonstrate medical and nursing tasks required of family caregivers once the patient returns home from the hospital.

The CARE Act recognizes the critical role of Hawai‘i’s unpaid family caregivers who keep family members and friends out of costly institutions, providing them with the tools to safely and efficiently care for loved ones at home.

The CARE Act features three provisions:

1. The caregiver’s name is recorded when a loved one is admitted to the hospital.
2. The caregiver is notified if the hospital is transferring the patient to another facility or releasing them.
3. The hospital offers to instruct the caregiver on how to perform tasks at home once the loved one is discharged from the hospital. Tasks include medication management, injections and wound care.

“Many of our residents have no other option but to care for their loved ones at home. The CARE Act is crucial in giving families support, guidance and peace of mind as they care for family members and loved ones in the home,” said Gov. Ige.

With Governor Ige’s signature, Hawai‘i becomes the 27th state in the nation (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) to support the CARE Act, to establish minimum hospital discharge standards across the board, to ease the transition from hospital to home.

The CARE Act receives no financial appropriation.