New federal rules guarantee same-sex partners' hospital visitation rights, but local policies already LGBT-friendly
Under new federal regulations, hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments can’t place restrictions on visitation based on sexual orientation — but the new rules don’t affect local hospitals.
University of Michigan Health System officials say staff has never denied visitors based on sexual orientation. The visitation policy at St. Joseph Mercy Health System, with locations in Saline, Ann Arbor and Chelsea, leaves it up to patients to decide who they see as family.
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township has long allowed patients to say who can visit them. Shown here is the atrium inside the hospital's new patient tower.
Kelly Parent, who manages the patient- and family-centered care program at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, said the new regulations are a step in the right direction, but don't go far enough.
“I’d love to see for it be taken to the next step and say this is the family of this patient and their access should be 24/7,” said Parent, whose daughter underwent treatment for a brain tumor in 2003 at Mott.
“We feel it’s very important to recognize that family should not be held to visiting hours,” she added.
At St. Joseph Mercy hospitals, some departments, like labor and delivery, may limit the number of visitors, but not who those visitors are, health system spokesperson Lauren Stokes said.
Gay rights groups applauded the regulations, which went into effect Tuesday.
“Today marks a step forward in ensuring same-sex couples are no longer discriminated against in hospital settings,” said Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, in a press release. “Of all the things same-sex couples have to worry about, of all the discrimination and pressures we face, not being able to see our partner or spouse shouldn't be one of them.”
President Barack Obama requested the rule change in an April 2010 White House memorandum.
In a November release announcing the change, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials said the new rules issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are aimed at giving patients, rather than care providers, the right to say who can visit during an inpatient stay, whether that person is a relative or not.
Juliana Keeping is a health and environment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Lola
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 5:25 a.m.
Jessie, this is a new law and msusan stated that this has been their policy in the past. So it's not about operating within the law. (Unless msusan was hospitalized twice since Tuesday.) There was no law when they instituted their policy so yes, it IS about rationalization. I wonder how they did that before being required by law to do it. I guess now they have a convenient excuse.
Jessie
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
@Lola....it's not about rationalization. Doing this is a condition of participation in the Medicare program. Meaning....they would risk losing their eligibility for Medicare if they do not follow this direction, and that would be huge because Medicare moolah is over half of St Joe's revenue.
David Briegel
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
Lola, Maybe they are just human first and foremost!
Lola
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
I'm curious to know how St. Joe's rationalizes this when they are a Catholic hospital. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier that they do. Are they just pretending that the partner is only a friend? Very interesting.
Lola
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 5:28 a.m.
Marcus, I do not discriminate against anyone. That's the church's job. Homosexuality IS against the Catholic religion. Don't believe me? Go ask the pope.
Oregon39_Michigan7
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 3:13 a.m.
Lola, it is possible to be both Catholic and LGBT-friendly (including supporting an Equal Marriage right for all). Maybe you should try not discriminating against an entire religious group? Open your eyes, my friend.
Sarah Rigg
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
Excellent news, and nice to know local hospitals have been progressive on the issue all along.
msusan
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
I've been hospitalized twice at St. Joe's. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily my partner was regarded as my #1 in command - both on an administrative level, but also by all of the nurses, doctors, and techs who cared for me. Way to go, SJMH, on being ahead of the curve here!
Bertha Venation
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:09 p.m.
FINALLY!!!