S.F. 537 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 135B.18B Patient visitation 1 policies. 2 As a condition of licensure under this chapter, a hospital 3 shall not institute a policy that limits a patient’s ability to 4 receive visitors designated by the patient during an inpatient 5 hospital stay, regardless of the patient’s diagnosis. However, 6 a hospital may impose infection control protocols otherwise 7 required that are related to the physical presence of such 8 designated visitors. 9 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 135C.35A Resident visitation policies 10 —— nursing facilities. 11 As a condition of licensure under this chapter, a nursing 12 facility shall not institute a policy that limits a resident’s 13 ability to receive visitors designated by the resident, 14 regardless of the resident’s diagnosis. However, a nursing 15 facility may impose infection control protocols otherwise 16 required that are related to the physical presence of such 17 designated visitors. 18 EXPLANATION 19 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 20 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 21 This bill requires that as a condition of licensure for a 22 hospital or nursing facility, a hospital or nursing facility 23 shall not institute a policy that limits a patient’s or 24 resident’s ability to receive visitors designated by the 25 patient during an inpatient hospital stay or designated by the 26 resident, regardless of the patient’s or resident’s diagnosis. 27 However, a hospital or nursing facility may impose infection 28 control protocols otherwise required that are related to the 29 physical presence of such designated visitors. 30 -1- LSB 2510SV (1) 90 pf/rh 1/ 1