SB 191 – No Patient Left Alone Act

SB 191 – No Patient Left Alone Act

Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Avery, Burke, Caldwell); Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Davie, Forsyth); Sen. Danny Britt, Jr. (R-Columbus, Robeson)

Summary

This bill requires hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care facilities, adult care homes, special care units, and residential treatment facilities to provide the opportunity for at least one visitor to visit a patient admitted to a facility and clarifies that these visitation rights may not be terminated, suspended, or waived by the facility, DHHS, or the Governor in response to declared disasters or emergencies. Visitors may be required to submit to health screenings as needed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and a facility may restrict a visitor who does not pass a health screening requirement or who has tested positive for an infectious disease.

This bill also requires DHHS to develop and disseminate free informational materials explaining patient visitation rights to each of these facilities.

Movement

Filed – 3/8/2021