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Utah Code § 26B-2-242

Visitation policy

Enacted by Chapter 276, 2023 General Session

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Patient" means an individual who receives care or services from a health care facility.

(b) "Personal representative" means an individual described in 45 C.F.R. Sec. 164.502(g).

(c) "Primary visitor" means an individual who a patient designates under Subsection (3).

(2) A health care facility shall establish visitation policies and procedures that shall, at a minimum, include provisions regarding:

(a) infection control;

(b) infection control education for visitors;

(c) personal protective equipment requirements when necessary for infection control;

(d) for a visitor who is not a primary visitor:

(i) maximum duration of visits;

(ii) maximum number of visitors a patient may have each day;

(iii) maximum number of visitors a patient may have at one time; and

(e) the individual or position at the health care facility that is responsible for ensuring that staff adhere to the policies and procedures.

(3)

(a) A patient or the patient's personal representative may designate one individual as a primary visitor.

(b) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a health care facility may not limit the duration or frequency of a primary visitor's visits to the designating patient.

(4) A health care facility may not:

(a) require a visitor or primary visitor to comply with infection control measures that are more restrictive than the infection control measures the health care facility requires of the health care facility's staff;

(b) require a visitor or primary visitor to show proof of vaccination or immunization status;

(c) except as provided in Subsection (5), prohibit physical contact between the visitor and the patient the visitor is visiting; or

(d) deny a visitor or primary visitor access to the patient unless visitation is denied, modified, or limited as provided in Subsection (5).

(5) A health care facility may:

(a) exclude certain areas of the health care facility from visitor and primary visitor access;

(b) require a visitor or a primary visitor to agree in writing to follow the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures before allowing access to the patient;

(c) suspend or refuse in-person visitation for a visitor or a primary visitor if the visitor or primary visitor violates the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures;

(d) remove a visitor or primary visitor or deny visitation, if the patient is undergoing a procedure or receiving treatment that would be impeded by visitation;

(e) deny visitation for a visitor or primary visitor if the patient or personal representative objects to the visit; or

(f) prohibit physical contact or visitation if:

(i) the visit or physical contact is prohibited by law;

(ii) the patient is in the custody of the state; or

(iii) the health care facility determines the visit or physical contact:

(A) creates a physical safety risk to the patient, the visitor or primary visitor, or the health care facility's staff;

(B) is counter therapeutic to the patient's well-being; or

(C) is disruptive to the patient's care or treatment.

(6) A health care facility shall provide the department with a copy of the health care facility's visitation policies and procedures:

(a) upon the department's request; and

(b) when the health care facility:

(i) obtains a license to operate from the department;

(ii) renews the license from the department; and

(iii) changes ownership.

(7) A health care facility shall make visitation policies and procedures created in accordance with this section available on the health care facility's website.

(8) The department shall provide:

(a) a description of the requirements of this section on the department's website; and

(b) a method for the public to report a violation of this section.

(9) This section does not apply to the Utah State Hospital.

Official source: Utah State Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Utah statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.