House
File
571
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
571
BY
SALMON
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
visitation
policies
in
nursing
facilities
1
and
hospitals.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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571
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
135B.18B
Patient
visitation
1
policies.
2
1.
As
a
condition
of
licensure
under
this
chapter,
a
3
hospital
shall
not
institute
a
policy
that
limits
a
patient’s
4
ability
to
receive
visitors
designated
by
the
patient
during
5
an
inpatient
stay
of
twenty-four
hours
or
more,
including
6
during
a
public
health
emergency
as
defined
in
42
U.S.C.
§247d.
7
However,
a
hospital
may
impose
reasonable
safety
requirements
8
related
to
the
physical
presence
of
such
designated
visitors.
9
2.
A
hospital
shall
not
be
held
liable
for
civil
damages
10
in
an
action
involving
a
liability
claim
arising
out
of
11
a
hospital’s
compliance
with
this
section.
The
immunity
12
protection
provided
under
this
section
shall
not
limit
and
is
13
in
addition
to
any
other
immunity
protections
applicable
under
14
state
or
federal
law.
15
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
135C.35A
Resident
visitation
policies
16
——
nursing
facilities.
17
1.
As
a
condition
of
licensure
under
this
chapter,
a
18
nursing
facility
shall
not
institute
a
policy
that
limits
19
a
resident’s
ability
to
receive
visitors
designated
by
the
20
resident,
including
during
a
public
health
emergency
as
defined
21
in
42
U.S.C.
§247d.
However,
a
nursing
facility
may
impose
22
reasonable
safety
requirements
related
to
the
physical
presence
23
of
such
designated
visitors.
24
2.
A
nursing
facility
shall
not
be
held
liable
for
civil
25
damages
in
an
action
involving
a
liability
claim
arising
out
26
of
a
nursing
facility’s
compliance
with
this
section.
The
27
immunity
protection
provided
under
this
section
shall
not
limit
28
and
is
in
addition
to
any
other
immunity
protections
applicable
29
under
state
or
federal
law.
30
EXPLANATION
31
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
32
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
33
This
bill
relates
to
hospital
patient
and
nursing
facility
34
resident
visitation
policies.
35
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571
Under
the
bill,
as
a
condition
of
licensure,
as
applicable,
1
a
hospital
or
a
nursing
facility
shall
not
institute
any
policy
2
that
limits
the
ability
of
a
patient
during
an
inpatient
stay
3
in
a
hospital
of
24
hours
or
more
or
a
resident
of
a
nursing
4
facility
to
receive
visitors
designated
by
the
patient
or
5
resident,
including
during
a
public
health
emergency.
However,
6
the
bill
provides
that
a
hospital
or
nursing
facility
may
7
impose
reasonable
safety
requirements
related
to
the
physical
8
presence
of
such
designated
visitors.
Under
the
bill,
a
9
hospital
or
nursing
facility
shall
not
be
held
liable
for
civil
10
damages
in
an
action
involving
a
liability
claim
arising
out
of
11
a
hospital’s
or
nursing
facility’s
compliance
with
the
bill.
12
The
immunity
protection
provided
under
the
bill
shall
not
limit
13
and
is
in
addition
to
any
other
immunity
protections
applicable
14
under
state
or
federal
law.
15
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2592YH
(4)
89
pf/rh
2/
2