(a) A skilled nursing facility, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1250, shall admit a patient only upon a physician’s order and only if the facility is able to provide necessary care for the patient.
(b) The administrator or designee of a skilled nursing facility shall be responsible for screening patients for admission to the facility to ensure that the facility admits only those patients for whom it can provide necessary care. The administrator, or his or her designee, shall conduct preadmission personal interviews as appropriate with the patient’s physician, the patient, the patient’s next of kin or sponsor, or the representative of the facility from which the patient is being transferred. A telephone interview may be conducted when a personal interview is not feasible.