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LD 960

An Act Facilitating The Discharge Of Hospitalized Patients To Nursing Facilities

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sue Bernard and 3 co-sponsors

Allows hospitals to discharge certain hospitalized patients to nursing facilities in alternative locations, with DHHS rulemaking to implement the process and speed discharges.

Signed by Governor
#dischargetonursingfacility #healthcarefacilities #hospitals
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Bill Summary · LD 960

Summary — LD 960: An Act Facilitating The Discharge Of Hospitalized Patients to Nursing Facilities

Status: Signed by the Governor (June 10, 2025)
Introduced: March 6, 2025 | Committee: Health and Human Services

Purpose

LD 960 is intended to make it easier for hospitals to discharge patients who require nursing facility care by clarifying placement options and related administrative processes. The bill (as amended and enacted as a Resolve) expressly allows, under certain circumstances, the placement of hospitalized patients in nursing facilities in alternative locations to facilitate timely discharge.

Key provisions and changes

  • Enables placement of hospitalized patients into nursing facilities located in alternative locations under specified circumstances (final enacted form is a Resolve with this focus).
  • Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to implement related rules and processes necessary to carry out the placement/transfer authority.
  • Committee Amendment A (H‑417) was adopted; the engrossed Resolve reflects those amendments (the text of the amendment is not in the materials provided, but fiscal notes indicate it narrowed or revised the bill so only minor rulemaking costs remain).

Who is affected

  • Hospital patients who need nursing facility care (may be discharged more quickly when nursing facility placement is available in alternative locations).
  • Hospitals — will have an expanded or clarified pathway to discharge patients to nursing facilities.
  • Nursing facilities — may receive hospitalized patients placed under the new authority or procedures.
  • Department of Health and Human Services — responsible for rulemaking, eligibility processing, and any implementation activities.
  • State budget — potential fiscal impacts detailed below.

Fiscal impact

  • Preliminary fiscal estimate (original bill): DHHS would need to establish 1 Human Services Caseworker and 3 Eligibility Specialist positions, creating General Fund costs of approximately $188,331 in FY2025‑26 and $195,651 in FY2026‑27. Other Special Revenue allocations were also identified (roughly $226,519 in FY2025‑26 and $235,283 in FY2026‑27), with projected increases in later years (GF: ~$200,473 in FY2027‑28 and ~$205,502 in FY2028‑29; Other SR: ~$239,639 and ~$245,817 respectively).
  • After committee amendment and in the engrossed Resolve: subsequent fiscal notes state only a minor General Fund cost for DHHS rule changes, which can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative history / timeline

  • Referred to Health and Human Services (March 6, 2025).
  • Work session and OTP‑AM recommendation (May 8, 2025).
  • Passed (engrossed with Committee Amendment A) and finally passed in concurrence in early June 2025 (June 2–3).
  • Signed by the Governor on June 10, 2025.

Notes / implications

  • The enacted Resolve places emphasis on administrative implementation (rule changes) by DHHS rather than large program expansions.
  • The preliminary staffing and cost estimates applied to the original bill text; after amendment the fiscal requirement was reduced to minor, absorbable costs.
  • Stakeholders (hospitals, nursing facilities, DHHS, patients/advocates) should monitor DHHS rulemaking and any guidance issued to understand operational details and eligibility/placement procedures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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