× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksAFL-13-37

Top Menu
Left Menu
State of Cal Logo
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor

Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


AFL 13-37
December 30, 2013


TO:
General Acute Care Hospitals

SUBJECT:
Patient Transfer: Non-Medical Reasons: Notification


​AUTHORITY:      Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 1317.2 and Civil Code (CIV) 56.1007


​This All Facilities Letter (AFL) letter is being sent to notify general acute care hospitals (GACHs) of new requirements which take effect January 1, 2014. Assembly Bill (AB) 974 (Chapter 711, Statutes of 2013) amends Health and Safety Code Section 1317.2 relating to patient transfer for non-medical reasons and notification to their preferred contact or their next of kin.

Existing law prohibits the transfer of a person needing emergency services from one hospital to another for any non-medical reason unless prescribed conditions are met. Effective January 1, 2014, HSC 1317.2 will also require that prior to a transfer of a patient for a non-medical reason, the hospital ask the patient if there is a preferred contact person to be notified, and make a reasonable attempt to contact the person and alert him or her about the proposed transfer, and if the patient is not able to respond, require that the hospital make a reasonable effort to ascertain the identity of the preferred contact person or the next of kin and alert him or her about the transfer. Hospitals will additionally be required to document any attempt to contact a preferred contact person or next of kin in the patient’s medical record.

The information in this AFL is a brief summary of AB 974. Facilities are responsible for following all applicable laws. The California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) failure to expressly notify facilities of legislative changes and/or statutory and regulatory requirements does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and for being aware of all legislative changes. Facilities should refer to the full text of Health & Safety Code Sections 1317.2 and Civil Code 56.1007 to ensure compliance.

If you have any additional questions, please contact your Licensing & Certification District Office.

 

Sincerely,

Original signed by Debby Rogers

Debby Rogers, RN, MS, FAEN
Deputy Director

Page Last Updated :