Amends TCA Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.
During a period in which a disaster, emergency, or public health emergency for COVID-19 has been declared, this bill prohibits hospitals, nursing homes, hospice services facilities, adult care homes, assisted-care living facilities, and facilities that are licensed to serve persons for mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (collectively referred to as "healthcare facilities") from restricting a patient from having at least one visitor to visit a patient admitted to a healthcare facility, subject to the guidelines, conditions, and limitations of the facility's normal visitation policy. The full text of this bill specifies additional requirements that will apply depending on whether the admitted patient is a minor or an adult. The visitation rights specified in this bill may not be terminated, suspended, or waived by the hospital, the department of health, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, or the governor upon the declaration of a disaster or emergency. Also, this bill prohibits a healthcare facility from requiring a patient to waive the visitation rights. This bill specifies that a healthcare facility is authorized to: (1) Require a visitor to submit to health screenings necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; (2) Restrict a visitor who does not pass a health screening requirement or who has tested positive for an infectious disease; and (3) Require a visitor to adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment. This bill also requires healthcare facilities to post their premises informational materials developed by the department of health or the department of mental health and substance abuse services, as applicable, explaining the rights specified in this bill. This bill authorizes the department of health and the department of mental health and substance abuse services to promulgate emergency rules to effectuate the purposes of this bill.
During a period in which a disaster, emergency, or public health emergency for COVID-19 has been declared, this bill prohibits hospitals, nursing homes, hospice services facilities, adult care homes, assisted-care living facilities, and facilities that are licensed to serve persons for mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (collectively referred to as "healthcare facilities") from restricting a patient from having at least one visitor to visit a patient admitted to a healthcare facility, subject to the guidelines, conditions, and limitations of the facility's normal visitation policy. The full text of this bill specifies additional requirements that will apply depending on whether the admitted patient is a minor or an adult. The visitation rights specified in this bill may not be terminated, suspended, or waived by the hospital, the department of health, the department of mental health and substance abuse services, or the governor upon the declaration of a disaster or emergency. Also, this bill prohibits a healthcare facility from requiring a patient to waive the visitation rights. This bill specifies that a healthcare facility is authorized to: (1) Require a visitor to submit to health screenings necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; (2) Restrict a visitor who does not pass a health screening requirement or who has tested positive for an infectious disease; and (3) Require a visitor to adhere to infection control procedures, including wearing personal protective equipment. This bill also requires healthcare facilities to post their premises informational materials developed by the department of health or the department of mental health and substance abuse services, as applicable, explaining the rights specified in this bill. This bill authorizes the department of health and the department of mental health and substance abuse services to promulgate emergency rules to effectuate the purposes of this bill.
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