HF 619 (LSB 2510HV (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 619

BY  COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 215)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to visitation policies in hospitals and nursing facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  135B.18B  Patient visitation policies.
   As a condition of licensure under this chapter, a hospital shall not institute a policy that limits a patient’s ability to receive visitors designated by the patient during an inpatient hospital stay, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis. However, a hospital may impose infection control protocols otherwise required that are related to the physical presence of such designated visitors.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  135C.35A  Resident visitation policies —— nursing facilities.
   As a condition of licensure under this chapter, a nursing facility shall not institute a policy that limits a resident’s ability to receive visitors designated by the resident, regardless of the resident’s diagnosis. However, a nursing facility may impose infection control protocols otherwise required that are related to the physical presence of such designated visitors.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires that as a condition of licensure for a hospital or nursing facility, a hospital or nursing facility shall not institute a policy that limits a patient’s or resident’s ability to receive visitors designated by the patient during an inpatient hospital stay or designated by the resident, regardless of the patient’s or resident’s diagnosis. However, a hospital or nursing facility may impose infection control protocols otherwise required that are related to the physical presence of such designated visitors.