February 13, 2025
Mr. Van Drew 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 concerned
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify patients rights to hospital visitation, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025
.
Sec. 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)
.