Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “No Patient Left Alone Act of 2023”.
No Patient Left Alone Act of 2023
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify patients’ rights to hospital visitation, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Patient visitation rights
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—
in subsection (e)—
in paragraph (8), by striking “and” at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10);
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”
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
in subsection (f), by striking “(9)” and inserting “(10)”.