Respite care provided in nursing home facilities.

(1) For each person admitted for respite care as authorized under s. 400.141(1)(f), a nursing home facility operated by a licensee must:

(a) Have a written abbreviated plan of care that, at a minimum, includes nutritional requirements, medication orders, physician orders, nursing assessments, and dietary preferences. The nursing or physician assessments may take the place of all other assessments required for full-time residents.

(b) Have a contract that, at a minimum, specifies the services to be provided to a resident receiving respite care, including charges for services, activities, equipment, emergency medical services, and the administration of medications. If multiple admissions for a single person for respite care are anticipated, the original contract is valid for 1 year after the date the contract is executed.

(c) Ensure that each resident is released to his or her caregiver or an individual designated in writing by the caregiver.

(2) A person admitted under the respite care program shall:

(a) Be exempt from department rules relating to the discharge planning process.

(b) Be covered by the residents’ rights specified in s. 400.022(1)(a)-(o) and (r)-(t). Funds or property of the resident are not to be considered trust funds subject to the requirements of s. 400.022(1)(h) until the resident has been in the facility for more than 14 consecutive days.

(c) Be allowed to use his or her personal medications during the respite stay if permitted by facility policy. The facility must obtain a physician’s order for the medications. The caregiver may provide information regarding the medications as part of the nursing assessment, and that information must agree with the physician’s order. Medications shall be released with the resident upon discharge in accordance with current physician’s orders.

(d) Be entitled to reside in the facility for a total of 60 days within a contract year or for a total of 60 days within a calendar year if the contract is for less than 12 months. However, each single stay may not exceed 14 days. If a stay exceeds 14 consecutive days, the facility must comply with all assessment and care planning requirements applicable to nursing home residents.

(e) Reside in a licensed nursing home bed.

(3) A prospective respite care resident must provide medical information from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner and any other information provided by the primary caregiver required by the facility before or when the person is admitted to receive respite care. The medical information must include a physician’s order for respite care and proof of a physical examination by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. The physician’s order and physical examination may be used to provide intermittent respite care for up to 12 months after the date the order is written.

(4) The facility shall assume the duties of the primary caregiver. To ensure continuity of care and services, the resident may retain his or her personal physician and shall have access to medically necessary services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, as needed. The facility shall arrange for transportation of the resident to these services, if necessary.