Discharge Planner Questions Maryland: What to Ask Before Your Parent Leaves

The discharge meeting is your one chance to get critical information that shapes everything that follows — where your parent goes, what care they receive, who pays, and how safe the transition actually is. Most families sit passively through this conversation because they don't know what they're entitled to ask. You're not most families.

Status and Coverage Questions

Ask these first — the answers dictate everything else:

"Is my parent classified as inpatient or observation status?" This is the single most consequential question. If your parent is under observation, their hospital stay doesn't count toward the three-day Medicare requirement for skilled nursing coverage. Ask early — ideally within the first 24 hours of admission.

"Will Medicare cover skilled nursing or rehab after discharge?" If the answer is yes, ask which facilities are in-network and how many days of coverage remain. If no, ask why — and whether a status change or appeal is appropriate.

"Has the Important Message from Medicare been provided?" This document contains the QIO contact information your family needs to file a discharge appeal. The hospital is required to provide it.

Discharge Plan Questions

Maryland law (COMAR 10.07.01.27) requires hospitals to develop and share a comprehensive discharge plan:

"Can I see the written discharge plan?" Don't accept a verbal summary. The plan should detail post-discharge services, equipment needs, medication instructions, and follow-up appointments.

"Has a home safety assessment been completed?" If your parent is going home, someone needs to evaluate whether the home environment is safe — stairs, bathroom accessibility, tripping hazards, adequate lighting.

"Is the recommended home health or residential service agency licensed by OHCQ?" Maryland discharge planners have a legal obligation to verify that any receiving provider is licensed by the Office of Health Care Quality. Ask them to confirm this explicitly.

"What medications will my parent be discharged with?" Maryland hospitals must provide a medication reconciliation list and, for nursing facility transfers, at least a three-day physical supply of current medications.

Caregiver Training Questions

Under Maryland's Lay Caregiver Act (COMAR 10.07.01.35):

"I'd like to designate myself as the lay caregiver." This triggers the hospital's obligation to document the designation and provide hands-on training for your parent's specific aftercare needs.

"What training will be provided before discharge?" The hospital must make reasonable efforts to prepare you for medication administration, wound care, mobility assistance, equipment use, and any clinical tasks you'll need to perform at home.

"Who is the contact for post-discharge questions?" Get a specific name and number — not just "call the main line." After-hours and weekend coverage matter when your parent spikes a fever at 9 PM on a Saturday.

The Script That Changes the Meeting

Walk in with written questions. Take notes. If the planner seems rushed or dismissive, say: "I want to make sure this discharge meets the requirements under COMAR 10.07.01.27. Can we go through the plan point by point?"

This signals that you understand the legal framework — and it transforms the meeting from a notification into a negotiation.

The Maryland Hospital Discharge Guide provides a printable question checklist for discharge meetings, plus the Lay Caregiver Act designation form and OHCQ compliance verification steps.

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