H.F. 2799 - "No Patient Left Alone Act" Summary

• Requires health care providers (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential care homes) to allow at least one support person of the patient's choice to be physically present during care and services.

• Defines support persons as individuals necessary for compassionate care, including those meeting physical or mental needs, end-of-life support, clergy or spiritual advisors, and service providers like hairdressers or barbers.

• Mandates providers establish written policies ensuring support persons have full visitation privileges, with special protections for minors' support persons (no visitation hour limits), family in end-of-life situations, and virtual options when physical presence is exhausted.

• Prohibits providers from requiring patients or residents to waive support person rights or consent to additional conditions such as advance directives or "do not resuscitate" orders as a condition of visitation.

• Establishes civil penalties of $500 per day for knowing or willful violations and provides liability protections for providers who grant support person access or decline to follow CDC guidelines restricting such access.