MN HF2408

Hospitals and nonacute care facilities (nursing homes, boarding care homes) must allow at least one support person of the patient's or resident's choice to be physically present during health care services

Support persons include individuals providing physical, cognitive, mental health, companionship, spiritual, or social support, as well as clergy members and service providers like hairdressers

Facilities must maintain written policies on support person rights, provide maximum access including evening and weekend visits, and accommodate groups of six or less for end-of-life situations with no age restrictions

Rights cannot be waived, suspended, or terminated by facilities or government entities even during governor-declared emergencies, and facilities face a $500 per day civil penalty for knowing or willful violations

Facilities may restrict support person access in operating rooms, isolation units, during emergency care, or when support persons show infection symptoms, pose a danger, or engage in threatening behavior