I. When a patient leaves a facility for emergency medical treatment the facility shall hold the bed open for the patient for 10 calendar days, if there is a reasonable expectation that the patient will return within 10 days and if the facility receives payment for the period of absence, provided that no town, city, county, or state funds shall be used for such payment. Temporary absences for therapeutic reasons shall be limited to 10 days a year.
II. When a patient's absence is longer than 10 days, or the facility has not received payment for the period of absence, the patient shall have the option to return to the facility for the next available bed.
III. This section shall not apply to home health care providers.