The new guideline removes hospital restrictions on patients’ bedside visitors and now requires hospitals to have written policies and procedures detailing patient visitation rights. Hospitals must also explain the circumstances under which they may restrict patient access to visitors based on reasonable clinical needs.
A key provision of the rules specifies that all visitors chosen by the patient, or his or her representative, must be able to enjoy “full and equal” visitation privileges consistent with the wishes of the patient.
The rules update the Conditions of Participation, the health and safety standards all Medicare- and Medicaid-participating hospitals must meet, and are applicable to all patients of those hospitals regardless of payor source.
Read the HHS release on the new rule requiring equal visitation rights for hospital patients.
Read more about Medicare and Medicaid:
–HHS Updates Amount of Savings for Medicare Beneficiaries Under Reform Law
–Medicare Improper Payment Rate Fell in 2010
–CMS Launches Innovation Center, 3 New Demonstrations
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