Gov. Parson signs bill limiting hospitals' visitor restrictions, a response to COVID rules

Health care facilities in Missouri will have less ability to restrict visitation and access to patients under a bill signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday.

House Bill 2116, dubbed the "No Patient Left Alone Act," establishes statewide rules about how and when caregivers and loved ones can visit hospitals, nursing homes and hospice facilities.

During visitor hours, those facilities are required to allow a patient or resident to have in-person contact with a parent, guardian or "compassionate care visitor." During states of emergency such as a pandemic, people designated as a patient or resident's caregiver are considered essential and allowed in-person contact.

The measure rose out of frustration and concern from lawmakers after some facilities limited or cut off visitor access during the peaks of COVID-19, aiming to mitigate the spread of the virus. Proponents of the legislation argued that patients should always be allowed in-person contact to ensure they're not in total isolation.

Missouri legislature: House passes restrictions on hospital visitor limits

"Strengthening these patient protections for all Missourians is not only common sense, but it will help our most vulnerable citizens during critical moments of their lives,” House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, a St. Louis Republican, said in a statement. “I am thankful to Gov. Parson for signing this important measure into law because there is no greater advocate for a patient than members of their own family."

An earlier version of the bill would have banned facilities from requiring vaccinations against any disease to receive treatment; that language was later stripped out. Its final version also includes language that allows state agencies to suspend in-person visitation if necessary to keep Missouri from violating federal law.

Rep. Rusty Black, a Chillicothe Republican and one of the bill's sponsors, said in March that even though there was "some angst" among hospital and health care organizations about the legislation, he still viewed it as an essential victory.

"What we're trying to do is not take total power away from them on making this visitation policy," Black said. "We're taking away the part that says zero."

Republicans Rep. Brian Seitz of Branson and Sen. Bill White of Joplin also sponsored the legislation.

Other bills Parson signed into effect on Thursday include:

• Senate Bill 710: Requires school nurses to have specific health care plans for students with epilepsy and other seizure disorders, as well as take training.

• House Bill 2168: Adjusts unemployment taxes to fund software maintenance for the state's insurance system, and expands medical retainer agreements to include dentists and chiropractors.

• House Bill 2331: Changes regulations surrounding health care facility inspections and surveys.

• House Bill 1662: Requires that property deeds remove discriminatory language regarding race, religion or national origin. Sponsored by Springfield Republican Rep. Craig Fishel.

• Senate Bill 758: Changes bidding procedures for certain projects and facilities. Sponsored by Springfield Republican Sen. Lincoln Hough.

• Senate Bill 886: Changes trusts and cemetery trust funds.

Galen Bacharier covers Missouri politics & government for the News-Leader. Contact him at gbacharier@news-leader.com, (573) 219-7440 or on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Parson signs hospital visitation bill, responding to COVID rules