A local lawmaker is among a group of elected officials from 25 states recently honored by AARP. The organization named Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, a Capitol Caregiver for the second consecutive year.
He was among the Indiana legislators who played key roles in the passage of House Enrolled Act 1265. It requires a hospital to provide each admitted patient or that person’s health care representative the opportunity to designate a lay caregiver within a specific time.
Charbonneau says in a statement the measure, “takes steps to help Hoosiers get the care and assistance they may need” and says “knowing a loved one will be taken care of also helps put families at ease.”
The law also requires hospitals to request written consent to release medical information to the designated lay caregiver and attempt to consult with the caregiver prior to the release of the patient.
