Requires video communication devices for patients or residents in nursing homes, hospitals or facilities providing health related services when visitor access is limited; requires that as part of a disaster preparedness plan that nursing homes, adult homes, enriched housing programs, and assisted living facilities provide video communication devices to patients for use when visitor access is limited, including, but not limited to during a designated state of emergency or a state disaster emergency.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1023
SPONSOR: Davila TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to video communi-
cation devices for patients or residents in nursing homes, hospitals or
facilities providing health related services; and to amend the executive
law, in relation to requiring as part of a disaster preparedness plan
that nursing homes, adult homes, enriched housing programs, and assisted
living facilities provide video communication devices to patients
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The bill would require that both hospitals and nursing homes provide
video communications devices to patients during any time when visitor
access is limited.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public health law is amended to provide a right to
video communication devices when visitor access is limited.
Section 2 amends the executive law to provide for video communication
devices when visitor access is limited.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in hospitals and nursing homes
restricting all visitors from seeing the loved ones, the flu season has
previously resulted in restricted access. Technology has provided a
solution to this with video conferencing apps and programs. This allows
family members to visit providing peace of mind to both the patient and
family.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Patient and
family engagement improves multiple aspects of hospital performance,
including quality, safety, and financial performance, patient experi-
ences of care, patient outcomes, and employee satisfaction. Together,
the multiple individual benefits of patient and family engagement lead
to improved hospital performance.
The use of tablets or phones with camera access will make this is easi-
er.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A. 5283 of the 2022 Legislative Session
A. 2117 of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to governments and minimal to facilities
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a
law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
rule or regulation necessary for implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date:
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1023
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DAVILA, ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, EICHENSTEIN,
RIVERA, SIMON, BRABENEC, DeSTEFANO, CUNNINGHAM, RAGA -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to video communi-
cation devices for patients or residents in nursing homes, hospitals
or facilities providing health related services; and to amend the
executive law, in relation to requiring as part of a disaster
preparedness plan that nursing homes, adult homes, enriched housing
programs, and assisted living facilities provide video communication
devices to patients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 2803-c of the public health law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph s to read as follows:
3 s. Pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, every
4 patient of a nursing home, hospital or facility providing health related
5 services, shall have the right to video communication devices for use
6 when visitor access is limited, including, but not limited to during flu
7 season or during a designated state of emergency or a state disaster
8 emergency.
9 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 23-b of the executive law is amended by
10 adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
11 (e) Providing video communication devices for use when visitor access
12 is limited, including, but not limited to during a designated state of
13 emergency or a state disaster emergency.
14 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
15 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
16 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
17 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
18 completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00269-01-5
