CHA News

Updated Discharge Planning for Homeless Patients Guidebook Now Available

For CNOs, Case Managers

CHA has updated the Discharge Planning for Homeless Patients guidebook and released a free PDF download for CHA members.

The guidebook explains California’s homeless patient discharge planning law and offers insights to help hospitals return homeless patients to the community. The update includes:

  • A new executive summary
  • Clarification of the public health officer’s role in recommending screening for infectious disease and vaccinations for homeless patients
  • Clarification of the requirement to maintain a homeless patient log
  • A new sample questionnaire to help determine whether a patient is homeless
  • Information about coding for homelessness
  • A template “Homeless Shelter Information Sheet”

Members with questions about California’s homeless patient discharge planning law should contact Lois Richardson, CHA vice president and legal counsel, at (916) 552-7611 or lrichardson@calhospital.org.