AHA voices support for Medicare patient visitation requirements

In a letter Aug. 27 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Hospital Association said it generally supports proposed changes to the Medicare conditions of participation for patient visitation rights, noting, however, that the changes may be unnecessary as nearly all hospitals have such policies and procedures in place. The proposed changes require hospitals to have written policies and procedures regarding the visitation rights of patients, including any clinically necessary or reasonable restrictions, and their right to receive the visitors whom they designate – whether a spouse, domestic partner, family member or friend.

The letter encourages CMS to reach out to the AHA and other stakeholders before taking supplemental implementation actions. “Though on face value these seem to be straight-forward changes to the CoPs, we have concerns regarding the supplemental implementation of these CoPs, including: (1) development of interpretive guidelines; (2) development of instructions for surveyors; and (3) coordination with existing state laws regarding visitation rights,” AHA wrote.