TITLE 39

HEALTH AND SAFETY

CHAPTER 98

ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS

39-9801.  definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1)  "Assistance" means aid in meeting daily living needs.

(2)  "Essential caregiver" means a patient’s or resident’s spouse, adult child, parent, guardian, conservator, health care agent, or surrogate decision-maker as described in section 39-4504, Idaho Code, and may also include any person or persons designated by a patient, resident, or surrogate decision-maker to visit the patient or resident at the facility. The patient, resident, or surrogate decision-maker may revoke the designation of essential caregiver at any time. A facility may not:

(a)  Limit the number of essential caregivers that may be designated by a patient, resident, or surrogate decision-maker; or

(b)  Define the term "essential caregiver" more narrowly than the term is defined in this section.

(3)  "Facility" means an institution providing health care services, a health care setting, or a setting in which to receive assistance, including but not limited to hospitals and other licensed inpatient centers, ambulatory surgical or treatment centers, nursing facilities, skilled nursing centers, residential treatment centers, rehabilitation and other therapeutic health settings, or assisted living facilities.

(4)  "Health care services" means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(5)  "Patient" means a person seeking or receiving health care services at a facility.

(6)  "Resident" means a person seeking or receiving assistance at a facility.

History:

[(39-9801) 39-9701, added 2022, ch. 134, sec. 1, p. 500; am. and redesig. 2023, ch. 218, sec. 12, p. 615; am. and redesig. 2023, ch. 300, sec. 1, p. 910; am. 2024, ch. 241, sec. 1, p. 860.]