COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill that requires long-term care facilities to allow in-person visits from compassionate caregivers during health crises, his office said Thursday.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. DeWine signs visitation bill for long-term care facilities
- HB 120 received bipartisan support in the Ohio House and Senate
- The sponsors of the legislation call it the "Caregivers Act"
The legislation came as a sub bill to HB 120 introduced by Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville, on March 23. The Ohio House and Ohio Senate approved the bill on April 6, sending it to the governor with no opposition votes. Its sponsors call it the “Caregivers Act.”
The law requires facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living, to permit compassionate care visits during an epidemic, pandemic or other state of emergency.
Compassionate care situations are relatively broad and include when a resident is struggling with a change in environment, grieving after a loved one’s death, showing weight loss or experiencing emotional distress.
Ohioans have had greater access to visiting residents in recent months than they did in the first year of the pandemic, but lawmakers wanted to ensure visitation will occur if COVID-19 makes a resurgence or if another contagious disease arises.
The bill ensures access for hospice care teams, clergy and home health agencies to provide in-person care to residents. Visitors can be required to undergo screening and facilities can require COVID-19 testing and masking.
Within 30 days of the law taking effect, facilities are required to develop visitation policies for compassionate care visits during health crises.
In an interview last month, Richardson the bill originated in response to concern from residents who could not get into long-term care facilities to visit their relatives because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The Caregivers Act is essentially the opportunity to say, under certain conditions, we would not want to disallow any family members from accessing their loved ones,” she said.