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The Florida Senate

CS/HB 1253 — Rights and Responsibilities of Patients

by Health and Human Services Committee and Rep. Harrison (CS/SB 1206 by Health Policy Committee and Senator Montford)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)

The bill amends the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to include the right for a patient to bring any person of his or her choosing to the patient-accessible areas of a health care facility or provider’s office while the patient is receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment or is consulting with his or her health care provider, with certain limitations. A patient may not bring another person if doing so would risk the health of the patient, other patients, or staff of the facility or office or doing so cannot be reasonably accommodated by the facility. The bill also requires this right to be added to the summary of rights and responsibilities that health care providers must make available to patients.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2017.

Vote: Senate 38-0; House 117-0