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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session |
House: HHS DPA 8-1-0-0 | 3rd Read 46-13-1-0Senate: HHS DPA 5-2-1-0 | 3rd Read 19-11-0-0Final Vote: 48-12-0-0 |
HB 2575: hospitals; visitation
Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1
Transmitted to the Governor
Overview
Prescribes requirements for a hospital's visitation policy regarding clergy visitation.
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 to provide notice of its visitation policy to a patient or the patient's representative. (Sec. 1)
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. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires clergy to comply with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by hospitals in connection with in-person visitation. (Sec. 1)
4. 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. (Sec. 1)
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8. HB 2575
9. Initials EB/IR Page 0 Transmitted
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