District of Columbia · Through 2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)

D.C. Code § 21-2231.01: Definitions.

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:

(1)
"After-care" means any type of assistance that is not regulated under Chapter 12 of Title 3, or similar law, and that is provided by a lay caregiver to a patient after the patient's discharge and is limited to the patient's condition at the time of discharge.

(2)
"Authorized representative" means a person who is authorized to make a health-care decision on behalf of an incapacitated individual or minor in accordance with §§ 21-2205 and 21-2210.

(3)
"Discharge" means a patient's exit and release from a hospital to the patient's residence following an inpatient admission.

(4)
"Hospital" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 44-501(a)(1).

(5)
"Lay caregiver" means an individual who is designated by the patient or authorized representative to provide after-care to the patient at the patient's residence and accepts the role as the patient's lay caregiver.

(6)
"Residence" means a dwelling that the patient considers to be the patient's home and does not include a rehabilitation facility, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home licensed by the Department of Health.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 21. Fiduciary Relations and Persons with Mental Illness. [Enacted title]
Chapter 22. Health-Care Decisions.
Subchapter III. Hospital Discharge Planning.

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:

(1)

"After-care" means any type of assistance that is not regulated under Chapter 12 of Title 3, or similar law, and that is provided by a lay caregiver to a patient after the patient's discharge and is limited to the patient's condition at the time of discharge.

(2)

"Authorized representative" means a person who is authorized to make a health-care decision on behalf of an incapacitated individual or minor in accordance with §§ 21-2205 and 21-2210.

(3)

"Discharge" means a patient's exit and release from a hospital to the patient's residence following an inpatient admission.

(4)

"Hospital" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 44-501(a)(1).

(5)

"Lay caregiver" means an individual who is designated by the patient or authorized representative to provide after-care to the patient at the patient's residence and accepts the role as the patient's lay caregiver.

(6)

"Residence" means a dwelling that the patient considers to be the patient's home and does not include a rehabilitation facility, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home licensed by the Department of Health.

Collected 2026-08-29T05:44:07Z. Source file · JSON

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