CO HB1199

Health-care facilities must allow patients and residents to receive visitors to the fullest extent permitted under the least restrictive applicable state laws or local ordinances, with priority given to immediate family, clergy, and individuals providing religious comfort.

Department of Public Health and Environment may issue a warning if a facility violates visitation rights and give it not more than 24 hours to allow visitation; civil penalties of at least $500 per instance per day apply if visitation is not allowed after the warning period.

If complete facility closure to visitors is required, facilities must use best efforts to develop alternate visitation protocols allowing visitation to the greatest extent possible; violations of such protocols also result in civil penalties of at least $500 per instance per day.

Facilities must provide notice of patient and resident visitation rights to patients, residents, and family members, including contact information for investigating agencies.

Health-care facilities must allow "compassionate care visits" for patients in end-of-life situations, those struggling with recent admission, those grieving recent deaths, those experiencing decline in eating/drinking or emotional distress; facilities may require health screenings and personal protective equipment for these visitors.