AI-assisted research summary: A facility generally may not take a patient’s money or possessions for safekeeping unless it has written authorization, and if it does accept them, it must give receipts, statements, and return the items on discharge or death.
I. A facility shall not accept personal funds and possessions from or on behalf of a patient for safekeeping and management, except when the facility receives written authorization from the patient or a personal representative. II. Upon acceptance of personal funds and possessions, a facility shall do one of the following: (a) Establish an account separate from the facility's funds, to be used as a petty cash fund for the patient's personal needs and deposit in such account on a monthly basis from the net income of the patient the amount specified in RSA 167:27-a; or (b) Give a bond with the surety approved by the commissioner. The bond shall be in an amount equal to a minimum of 11/4 times the average balance of patient funds held during the previous year. The commissioner may require an additional bond or permit the filing of a bond in a lower amount if the commissioner determines that a change in the average balance has occurred or may occur. III. A written receipt shall be given to a patient or a personal representative of the patient when personal funds and possessions are received by a facility. The facility shall furnish the patient or a personal representative of the patient with a quarterly statement of the funds and possessions; except that the New Hampshire hospital shall furnish a quarterly statement only upon request made by the patient or the personal representative of the patient. The statement shall contain the items and amounts received, the sources, the disposition, and the date of each transaction. Upon the discharge of a patient, the facility shall furnish the patient or a personal representative with a final statement and return all personal funds and possessions not later than 10 days after discharge. Upon the death of a patient, the facility shall furnish the executor, administrator, or voluntary administrator, upon proof of appointment, all personal funds and possessions of the deceased patient. Source: Source. 1981, 453:1. 1983, 274:10. 1986, 183:2. 1995, 310:183. 1997, 331:9, 10, eff. Aug. 22, 1997. 2014, 315:1, eff. July 1, 2014.