Bill Details
HR.1358 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-13 - 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.
Introduced Date
2025-02-13
Policy Area
Health
Committees
View committees (2)
7
0
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would make hospital visitation rights a formal part of federal Medicare rules. It says hospitals must have clear written policies about who can visit patients, explain any health-related limits, tell patients about their right to choose visitors, and prevent discrimination in visitation. The goal is to make sure patients can have the people they want with them, while still allowing hospitals to set reasonable limits when medically necessary.
- Hospitals would have to give patients written information about their visitation rights and any limits that apply.
- Patients would have the right to choose visitors, including a spouse, family member, or friend, and could change their minds at any time.
- Hospitals could only limit visits for clinical or safety reasons, and they would need to explain those reasons.
- Hospitals would not be allowed to deny visitation because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability.
Official Summaries
No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025
This bill requires hospitals, as a condition of Medicare participation, to have certain written policies and procedures that provide for patient visitation rights and to inform patients of such rights, including any applicable restrictions.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1358 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1358
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify patients
rights to hospital visitation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to codify patients
rights to hospital visitation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
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)''.
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