Except as provided in section 17a-502, on and after October 1, 2005, no patient shall be admitted to a chronic disease hospital, unless the medical director of the hospital determines that the hospital and its medical staff are capable of providing adequate care and treatment to the patient, consistent with the hospital's by-laws. In making such determination, the medical director shall have access to the patient's medical records and may examine the patient.

(1957, P.A. 586, S. 21; 1972, P.A. 113, S. 7; P.A. 76-139, S. 5; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 32, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 05-80, S. 1; P.A. 07-49, S. 2.)

History: 1972 act replaced office of tuberculosis control, hospital care and rehabilitation with office of public health; P.A. 76-139 deleted redundant reference to admission to chronic disease hospitals, removed first preference for tuberculosis patients and third preference for “other chronic cases in the order of application”; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-119 transferred to Sec. 19a-253 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-80 removed preferences for patients with chronic illnesses and patients receiving public assistance, required medical director, rather than department, to determine the appropriateness of admitting a patient to a chronic disease hospital and granted medical director access to patient medical records in order to make such determination; P.A. 07-49 added exception re Sec. 17a-502.