Big Idea
- HB 2449 requires long-term care facilities to accommodate in-person spiritual care visitation
- Safeguards health and safety policies
- Clergy members must comply with reasonable precautions
- Nguyen passed similar legislation regarding hospitals
- Read more...
Accommodating spiritual visitation
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Quang Nguyen has introduced HB 2449, legislation requiring long-term care facilities to accommodate in-person spiritual care visitations for patients.
“Some of the restrictive visitation policies put in place by facilities during the coronavirus pandemic ended up having consequences far beyond that of protecting patient health,” said Representative Nguyen. “Onerous restrictions detrimentally separated patients from their families, clergy, and others for long periods. For many, spiritual care is as important as health care. It must also be accommodated when providing comfort and support for patients in long-term care facilities. My bill will help ensure that it is.”
The bill safeguards health and safety policies in these facilities, requiring clergy members to comply with all reasonable precautions set by facility when interacting with patients.
Similar legislation by Representative Nguyen was successfully passed and signed into law in 2021, ensuring hospitals facilitated clergy visits for end-of-life patients.
HB 2449 is cosponsored by Representatives Barton, Biasiucci, Blackman, Bolick, Bowers, Burges, Carroll, Carter, Chaplik, Cobb, Cook, Diaz, Fillmore, Grantham, Griffin, Hoffman, John, Kaiser, Martinez, Parker, Payne, Pingerelli, Toma, Weninger, Wilmeth, and Senators Boyer and Kerr.
Quang Nguyen is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 1, which includes Prescott, and portions of Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. Follow him on Twitter at @QuangNguyenAZ.
