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).