Bill Text: WV HB4583 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prevent healthcare facilities from limiting the number of parents that are able to attend appointments for their children
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-10 - To House Health and Human Resources [HB4583 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-HB4583-Introduced.html
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4583
By Delegate C. Pritt
[Introduced January 10, 2024; Referred to
the Committee on Health and Human Resources ]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §16-39-9, relating to permitting parents or guardians visit a minor patient in a health care facility.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 39. PATIENT SAFETY ACT.
§16-39-9. Child's right to accompaniment by parents or guardians at medical appointments.
(a) Notwithstanding a health care facility's visitation policy, a child has the right to be accompanied by his or her parents or guardians to an appointment in a health care facility: Provided, That visitation permitted by any health care facility may not be inconsistent with any applicable federal law, rule, policy, or guidance in effect.
(b) A visitor shall comply with the applicable procedures established by the health care facility.
(c) The health care facility may deny a visitor entry to the health care facility, may subject a visitor to expulsion from the facility, or may permanently revoke visitation rights to a visitor who does not comply with the applicable procedures established by the health care facility.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a right for every parent or guardian of a patient in a health care facility to visit that patient.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
