(a) If a hospital recommends home health care to a patient, the hospital discharge plan shall include two or more available options of home health care agencies.
(b) A hospital which (1) has an ownership or investment interest in a home health care agency, or (2) receives compensation or remuneration for referral of patients to a home health care agency shall disclose such interest to any patient prior to including such agency as an option in a hospital discharge plan. Such information shall be verbally disclosed to each patient or shall be posted in a conspicuous place visible to patients. As used in this subsection, “ownership or investment interest” does not include ownership of investment securities purchased by the practitioner on terms available to the general public and which are publicly traded.
(P.A. 93-415, S. 7.)