# No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025

This bill ensures that hospital patients have the right to have a family member, friend, or designated support person stay with them during their hospital stay. The law requires hospitals to allow visitors to remain with patients during medical treatment, procedures, and recovery, with very limited exceptions. This applies to all types of hospital settings, including emergency rooms, intensive care units, and regular hospital floors.

The main purpose is to protect patients' emotional wellbeing and ensure they have someone they trust present during vulnerable medical moments. Having a support person there can help patients feel less anxious, communicate better with doctors about their medical history and concerns, and make sure their wishes are understood and followed. The bill recognizes that patients often need emotional support during hospitalization and that family members or close friends can play an important role in their care and recovery.

Hospitals can only restrict visitors in very specific situations, such as when a patient explicitly requests to be alone, when a visitor is being disruptive or violent, or when there are legitimate infection control concerns. The bill prevents hospitals from using blanket policies that keep all visitors out, which became a significant problem during the COVID-19 pandemic when many hospitals prohibited family members from being present with dying patients. This law aims to make sure that doesn't happen again by guaranteeing patients the right to have their support system nearby during one of life's most difficult and important moments.

No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025

Van Drew, Jefferson

No Patient Left Alone Act of 2025This bill requires hospitals, as a condition of Medicare participation, to have certain written policies and procedures that provide for patient visitation rights and to inform patients of such rights, including any applicable restrictions.