SB376 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Health care, hospitals, procedure for aftercare when discharged from hospital, designation of a family caregiver, Family Caregiver Act

Summary

The bill creates the Alabama Family Caregiver Act, requiring hospitals to designate and educate a family caregiver for aftercare at discharge and to limit hospital liability for caregiver-provided aftercare.

What This Bill Does

Hospitals must offer patients the option to designate a caregiver before discharge and record the caregiver's contact information. If designated, the hospital must notify the caregiver about the discharge, consult with the caregiver and the patient or guardian to develop an aftercare plan, and educate the caregiver about the patient's aftercare needs. The act provides liability protections for hospitals related to caregiver actions and prohibits compensation for designated caregivers; it also clarifies that caregivers cannot make medical decisions unless legally authorized and that patients or guardians may decline to designate a caregiver without penalty.

Who It Affects

• Patients 18 years or older and their legal guardians who may designate a family caregiver to assist with aftercare after hospital discharge and whom the hospital must contact and involve in discharge planning.
• Hospitals, hospital employees, and designated caregivers who must implement designation, provide education, follow discharge plans, and are subject to liability limitations and restrictions on compensation.

Key Provisions

• Hospitals must offer each patient or guardian the opportunity to designate a caregiver before discharge and record the caregiver's contact information in medical records; designation can be changed if the caregiver becomes unavailable.
• Hospitals must make a good faith effort to notify the designated caregiver about the patient's discharge and consult with the caregiver and patient/guardian to develop an aftercare plan and provide education about aftercare tasks.
• Hospitals are not liable for injuries or damages caused by a designated caregiver's actions, except for gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct related to the education provided; designated caregivers are not liable for patient care except in those limited cases.
• Caregivers cannot be compensated for aftercare; a licensed professional may be designated as a caregiver only if they do not receive compensation for aftercare.
• The act does not allow caregivers to make medical decisions or give informed consent unless authorized by law; the act becomes effective several months after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Hospitals