118 HR 219 IH: No Patient Left Alone Act of 2023 U.S. House of Representatives 2023-01-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 219IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 9, 2023Mr. Van Drew (for himself, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Mr. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify patients’ rights to hospital visitation, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Patient Left Alone Act of 2023.

2.

Patient visitation rights

Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended— (1)in subsection (e)— (A)in paragraph (8), by striking and at the end; (B)by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); (C)by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph: (9)has written policies and procedures regarding the visitation rights of individuals receiving items and services at the institution, which shall include a description of any clinically necessary or reasonable restriction or limitation that such institution may need to place on such rights and the reasons for the clinical restriction or limitation, and a requirement that such institution— (A)inform each such individual of his or her visitation rights, including any clinical restriction or limitation on such rights; (B)inform each such individual of the right, subject to the individual’s consent, to receive the visitors whom the individual designates, including a spouse, another family member, or a friend, and the individual’s right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time; (C)may not restrict, limit, or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability; and (D)ensure that all visitors enjoy full and equal visitation privileges consistent with this paragraph; and; and (D)in the matter following paragraph (10), as redesignated, by striking paragraph (9) each place it appears and inserting paragraph (10) in each such place; and (2)in subsection (f), by striking (9) and inserting (10).