SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1318        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Peter J. Durant

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to protect a patient’s right to a support person at health care facilities.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1318        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to protect a patient’s right to a support person at health care facilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 70E of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (o) the following subsection:-

(p) to a person of their choosing to serve as a support person. The support person may be present with the patient 24 hours a day in patient-accessible areas of the health care facility or provider’s office to accompany the patient while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with their health care provider. A health care facility may temporarily restrict the presence of the support person during surgeries or emergency interventions. Health care facilities shall not require the support person to receive any vaccination as a condition for access to the patient.