Revised Appendix A, Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitals, and Appendix W, Interpretive Guidelines for Critical Access Hospitals

December 2011 | Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Download PDF Go to Web Site

“ "...an individual asserts that he or she is the patient's spouse, domestic partner (whether or not formally established and including a same sex domestic partner),...or other family member and thus is the patient's representative, the hospital is expected to accept this assertion, without demanding supporting documentation..."”

This publication includes the hospital guidelines as mandated by the Department of Health & Human Services regarding hospital visitations and designation of a health care representative pertinent to the LGBT population. The revisions made to the original legislation appear in red italics and specifically denote the rights of same-sex partners in issues surrounding hospital visitations, decision making, as well as access to the patient in care.