Current through the 2024 Budget Session
Section 35-2-122 - In-person visitation with clergy members(a) As used in this section:(i) "Clergy member" means a rabbi, priest, minister or any person acting as a lay religious counselor of any religious denomination or sect;(ii) "Health care facility" includes but is not limited to as defined in W.S. 35-2-901(a)(x); (iii) "Public health emergency" means as defined in W.S. 35-4-115(a)(i).(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no health care facility shall prohibit a resident or patient of that facility from receiving in-person visitation with a clergy member during a public health emergency, provided that the visitation is at the request of: (i) The patient or resident; or(ii) The patient's or resident's legally authorized representative, including a family member of the patient or resident, if the patient or resident is incapacitated.(c) During a public health emergency, a health care facility may impose and enforce requirements promulgated under W.S. 35-1-240 or by the centers for disease control and prevention, the centers for Medicaid and Medicare services, the state health officer under W.S. W.S. 35-1-240, the joint commission on the accreditation of healthcare organizations or other accredited organizations that provide deemed status on behalf of the centers for Medicaid and Medicare services for health care for clergy members to comply with to visit patients or residents of that facility. A health care facility shall not prohibit a clergy member from visiting a patient or resident in that facility unless the clergy member refuses to follow the requirements that the health care facility has required in accordance with this subsection.Added by Laws 2023, ch. 74,§ 1, eff. 2/23/2023.