Utah Hospital Discharge Checklist: What to Verify Before Your Parent Leaves

The Non-Negotiable Items Before Leaving

A hospital discharge isn't a single event — it's a handoff. Every item on this list represents something that, if missed, creates a gap your parent falls through. Some of these gaps send people back to the ER within 48 hours.

Run through these before your parent leaves the building. Once you're home, fixing omissions takes days instead of minutes.

Admission Status Verification

• [ ] Confirm whether your parent was classified as inpatient or observation status. Observation days do not count toward the three-day inpatient requirement for Medicare SNF coverage. If observation: ask the physician whether reclassification to inpatient is clinically supportable. If the answer is no, a qualifying inpatient stay is still required before Medicare Part A can cover skilled nursing rehab after discharge.
• [ ] Verify that "An Important Message from Medicare" (IM) was delivered. The hospital is required to deliver this form within two days of admission and again before discharge. It spells out appeal rights.

Medication Management

• [ ] Get a written discharge medication list — every medication, dosage, frequency, and route. Compare it against the pre-hospital medication list.
• [ ] Identify new medications. Ask: What is this for? What are the side effects? Does it interact with any existing medications?
• [ ] Identify discontinued medications. Ask: Why was this stopped? Is it permanent or temporary?
• [ ] Confirm prescriptions have been transmitted to the pharmacy or that paper prescriptions are in hand. Check whether any require prior authorization from the insurance plan.
• [ ] Pick up medications before bringing your parent home. Don't plan to "stop on the way" — go in advance and verify everything is ready.

Post-Acute Care Arrangements

• [ ] If home health was ordered: Know the agency name, intake phone number, and the date of the first scheduled visit. If no visit is scheduled within 48 hours of discharge, push for something sooner.
• [ ] If SNF/rehab is the plan: Know the facility name, the admission date, and whether the three-day inpatient requirement has been met for Medicare coverage.
• [ ] Durable medical equipment: Confirm what was ordered (walker, hospital bed, commode, oxygen), who the supplier is, and when delivery is scheduled. Equipment should arrive before or on the day your parent gets home.
• [ ] Follow-up appointments: The PCP appointment should be within 7 days of discharge. Specialist follow-ups (cardiology, wound care, orthopedics) should have dates and times confirmed before discharge.

Transportation

• [ ] For Traditional Medicaid enrollees: Call Modivcare at 1-855-563-4403 for non-emergency medical transport from the hospital. Discharge trips are classified as urgent and don't need three days' advance notice.
• [ ] If family is driving: Keep a mileage log for Modivcare personal mileage reimbursement ($0.18/mile, up to $300/month).
• [ ] If the discharge destination involves stairs or accessibility barriers: Confirm whether wheelchair transport or stretcher service is needed and arrange it specifically.

Legal Documents

• [ ] Durable Power of Attorney — Is there a current one on file? If your parent signed one before the hospital stay, confirm the hospital has a copy. If not, this is the time to discuss it while the parent has capacity.
• [ ] Advance Health Care Directive — Same check. Utah requires one disinterested witness for validity. The witness cannot be the healthcare agent, a relative, an heir, or a treating provider.
• [ ] If no legal documents exist and your parent lacks capacity: The path forward is guardianship through the probate court — an expensive, time-consuming process. This is a strong argument for getting documents signed while your parent can still participate.

Home Safety (If Discharging Home)

• [ ] Grab bars installed next to the toilet and in the shower/tub
• [ ] Throw rugs removed from walking paths
• [ ] Nightlights along the route from bedroom to bathroom
• [ ] Raised toilet seat if your parent has hip precautions or difficulty sitting/standing
• [ ] Shower chair or bench if standing during a shower isn't safe
• [ ] Phone within reach of the bed and the main sitting area

The Master Resource

This checklist covers the essentials. The Hospital-to-Home Utah guide expands each item into a full protocol — the appeal deadlines if discharge is contested, the Medicaid eligibility math, the waiver application windows, and the specific Utah agency contacts for every post-discharge scenario.

See more Utah guides →