The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Jan. 25 issued FAQ on patient visitation at federally funded facilities. The guidance aims to ensure that hospitals and long-term care facilities covered by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations and by OCR’s civil rights authorities are aware of their obligations and are better able to serve people, including during any future public health emergency.
Under CMS regulations and OCR civil rights authorities, hospitals, long term care facilities, and critical access hospitals are prohibited from restricting, limiting, or otherwise denying visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability and are required to have written visitation policies, procedures, and practices regarding such prohibitions.
The FAQ also include guidance for facilities and entities to effectively communicate their visitation policies, procedures, and practices to patients and communities.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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