Housing and Homelessness Committee
February 28, 2022

3/23/2022
1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
Housing and Homelessness Committee
April 4, 2022

ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO ADD

9.04.610 REGARDING HOSPITAL

TRANSPORT

OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS
RiversideCA.gov
2 ISSUE
Patient Dumping
For years, many California health facilities have engaged in the practice known as “homeless patient dumping.” This practice involves health facilities discharging and transporting indigent patients to foreign neighborhoods without the patient’s consent or without the consent of the accepting health facility. 3/23/2022
2 RiversideCA.gov3

BACKGROUND
Hospitals have a moral responsibility to ensure that their discharged patients do not suffer adverse medical impacts. Those who cannot care for themselves are at great risk.Contributing to unsheltered homelessnessPatients without a permanent address"Dumped" without notice in City of Riverside RiversideCA.gov4
SENATE BILL 1152•Hospitals must have written discharge policiesAppropriate arranged post-health care facility.Health and Safety Code section 1262.5(n)(4)(A) requires thedischarging health facility to provide the potential receivinghealth facility with written or electronic information about thehomeless patient’s known posthospital health and behavioralheath care needs and shall document the name of the personat the accepting facility who agreed to accept the homelesspatient.Under section 1262.5(o)(10), the discharging hospital shall offertransportation after discharge to any destination within amaximum travel time of 30 minutes or 30 miles from the hospital 3/23/2022
3 RiversideCA.gov5
AMENDMENT TO RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 9.04•Ordinance to amend RMC Chapter 9.04•Add Section 9.04.610 Regarding Hospital; TransportMisdemeanor for health facilities to transport a patient toa location other than the patient’s residence without thepatient’s written consent.Violation if a health facility transports a patient to anotherhealth facility within the City of Riverside without firstobtaining written consent from the accepting healthfacility.

RiversideCA.gov6
SECTION 9.04.610 VIOLATIONS•Hold the driver or carrier for hire liable for transporting a person to a health facility within the City of Riverside when they knew or should have known the accepting health facility has not given written consent to accept the patient.•Fines up to $1,000, a term of probation of up to three years, or both. 3/23/2022
4 RiversideCA.gov7
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENTEnvision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan PrioritiesCross-Cutting Threads#2 Community Well-Being, Goal 2.2 Fostering relationships between community member, partner organizations, and public safety professionals to define, prioritize and address community safety and social service needsCommunity TrustEquityFiscal ResponsibilityInnovationSustainability & Resiliency RiversideCA.gov8
RECOMMENDATIONThat the Housing and Homelessness Committeeconceptually approve the Ordinance amendingRiverside Municipal Code Chapter 9.04 to addSection 9.046.610 Regarding Hospital; Transportand forward the Ordinance to City Council forfinal consideration.