ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	House: HHS DPA 8-1-0-0 | 3^rd Read 46-13-1-0 Senate: HHS DPA 5-2-1-0 | 3^rd Read 19-11-0-0

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HB 2575: hospitals; visitation

Sponsor:  Representative Nguyen, LD 1

Senate Engrossed

Overview

Requires a hospital's visitation policy to facilitate the ability of clergy to visit patients for religious purposes, including during a pandemic.

History

The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) released COVID-19 Guidance for Visitation at Congregate Settings for Vulnerable Adults and Children (guidance), effective October 1, 2020, that states facilities should allow for compassionate care visits regardless of the level of community spread. Compassionate care visits include visits for end-of-life or terminal diseases, visits by necessary healthcare professionals, clergy and professionals assisting people with disabilities. The guidance recommends clergy be allowed to enter the facility if they are not subject to a work exclusion due to COVID-19 exposure or showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after screening.

Provisions

1. Requires a hospital's visitation policy to facilitate the ability of clergy to visit patients for religious purposes, including during a pandemic. (Sec. 1)

2. States that in an end-of-life situation, a hospital must facilitate in-person clergy visitation regardless of the time of day. (Sec. 1)

3. Stipulates clergy must comply with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by hospitals in connection with clergy visitation. (Sec. 1)

4. States that clergy visitation or visit includes a virtual visit using communication technology. (Sec. 1)

Senate Amendments

1. Requires a hospital to provide notice of its visitation policy to a patient or the patient's representative.

2. States that if a hospital's visitation policy allows in-person visitation of any kind and is authorized by the patient or the representative, the hospital must facilitate the ability of clergy to visit the patient in-person for religious purposes.

3. Stipulates if a hospital's visitation policy does not allow in-person visitation of any kind at all times or temporarily for health and safety reasons, the hospital must facilitate a virtual clergy visitation using communication technology.

4. Removes language requiring a hospital to facilitate in-person clergy visitation regardless of the time of day in an end-of-life situation.

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8.                   HB 2575

9. Initials EB/IR         Page 0 Senate Engrossed

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