Relating to: consent to admissions to certain health care facilities by patient representatives without requiring a petition for guardianship or protective placement. (FE)

SB 578 allows designated patient representatives to consent to health care facility admissions for individuals who cannot manage their own health care decisions (incapacitated) without requiring a court-appointed guardian or protective placement petition. The bill mandates that incapacity be certified by two physicians or one physician and one advanced practice clinician, excluding individuals diagnosed with developmental disability or mental illness. Patient representatives can make health care decisions, enroll the individual in Medical Assistance, and authorize health care costs until the individual is no longer deemed incapacitated or a court appoints a guardian. This streamlines consent for eligible patients while maintaining medical oversight and avoiding traditional guardianship processes.