Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes recovery care centers for postsurgical care.

Highlights:

• Establishes recovery care centers in which a patient is admitted and receives “recovery care services” for a maximum of 72 hours, separate from a hospital (Sec. 2).

• Defines “recovery care services” as postsurgical and post-diagnostic medical care provided to patients for whom acute care hospitalization is not required and recovery is expected to be uncomplicated (Sec. 2).

• Requires a patient to be certified by his or her attending or referring physician as medically stable before admission into a recovery care center (Sec. 4).

• Increases the maximum length of stay for a patient admitted into an ambulatory surgical center to 24 hours (Sec. 2).

• Requires a recovery care center to meet the following standards (Sec. 4):
• The center has a diabetic department or service on the premises or under contract;
• The center has procedures to ensure the proper administration of medication; and
• The center has a pharmacy, pharmaceutical department, or pharmaceutical service.

Full Bill Text