MS HB58

Establishes a comprehensive bill of rights for patients in acute care facilities and residents in nursing homes and extended care facilities, prohibiting facilities from requiring patients or residents to waive these rights as a condition of admission.

Requires facilities to inform patients and residents at admission of their rights in writing with reasonable accommodations for language and communication barriers, and mandates disclosure of physician identity, treatment information, facility policies, and outside service providers.

Guarantees rights including courteous treatment, appropriate health care, participation in treatment planning, refusal of treatment, privacy of medical records and communications, freedom from maltreatment and nontherapeutic restraints, and access to grievance procedures and advocacy services.

Requires facilities to notify family members when patients or residents are unconscious or unable to communicate, with social service agencies and law enforcement assisting if notification cannot be made within 24 hours.

Establishes specific protections for restraint use in nursing homes, including written consent forms, physician orders documenting medical necessity, and monitoring requirements; takes effect July 1, 2012.