LRB-2942/1
TAY:mfd:arm
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
May 27, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Jensen and Krug. Referred to
Committee on Health.
AB397,1,1
1An Act to create 146.95 of the statutes;
relating to: hospital visitation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, visitation policies at an inpatient health care facility are set by the
inpatient health care facility. This bill allows a patient at an inpatient health care
facility to identify to a health care provider at an inpatient health care facility those
persons with whom the patient wishes to visit while the patient is a patient at the
inpatient health care facility. The bill prohibits, with certain exceptions, an
inpatient health care facility from denying visitation privileges during the facility's
regular visiting hours to any person whom the patient identifies.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB397, s. 1
2Section
1. 146.95 of the statutes is created to read:
AB397,1,3
3146.95 Patient visitation. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB397,1,44
(a) "Health care provider" has the meaning given in s. 155.01 (7)
AB397,1,55
(b) "Inpatient health care facility" has the meaning given in s. 252.14 (1) (d).
AB397,2,4
6(2) Patient-designated visitors. (a) Any individual may identify to a health
7care provider at an inpatient health care facility at any time, either orally or in
1writing, those persons with whom the individual wishes to visit while the individual
2is a patient at the inpatient health care facility. Except as provided in par. (b), no
3inpatient health care facility may deny visitation during the inpatient health care
4facility's regular visiting hours to any person identified by the individual.
AB397,2,65
(b) An inpatient health care facility may deny visitation with a patient to any
6person if any of the following applies:
AB397,2,87
1. The inpatient health care facility or a health care provider determines that
8the patient may not receive any visitors.
AB397,2,109
2. The inpatient health care facility or a health care provider determines that
10the presence of the person would endanger the health or safety of the patient.
AB397,2,1211
3. The inpatient health care facility determines that the presence of the person
12would interfere with the primary operations of the inpatient health care facility.
