Hospital patient visitation law effective Nov. 1

Posted on: 9/10/21

HB 2687, the No Patient Left Behind Act, was signed into law this past legislative session. OHA and our member hospitals worked with the bill’s authors, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck and Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, to protect patient rights and a hospital’s right to set limits on visitors or restrict visitation. The bill tracks closely with CMS Conditions of Participation. Although not in effect currently, legislators are making inquiries to OHA on behalf of constituents about restrictive policies of hospitals. Hospital policies should be reviewed and changed, if necessary, before the Nov. 1 effective date. (Scott Tohlen)