Hospital visitation rule fails to protect all patients.
CMS rulemaking won't solve known problems.  Public comment period ends August 27th.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  August 12, 2010

In just two weeks, the federal government will finalize a new rule about who can visit patients in every hospital in the United States. President Obama's stated goal is to solve the problem that "every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides - whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay."  As written, the rule fails to solve this problem.

The draft rule would not have helped Kathleen, who was denied access to her partner after a surgical crisis despite being his Durable Power of Attorney.  It would not help Colleen, who was excluded from her sedated partner's care for seven days while doctors conferred only with his estranged sister.  It would not help Jennie, who was taken to the hospital along with her boyfriend after a car wreck but was not allowed to visit him independently during his subsequent weeks-long coma. 

These and other traumatic situations, along with concrete recommendations, are detailed in comments on the draft rule which the Alternatives to Marriage Project (AtMP) submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 9th.  The deadline to submit comments is August 27th.

AtMP Executive Director Nicky Grist says, "I applaud the President's intentions and hope CMS will strengthen the rule to achieve our shared goals.  CMS needs to see that race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability are not the only obstacles people face to visiting loved ones in the hospital.  It's time to take down the barriers of marital and relationship status discrimination."

The Single Working Women's Affiliate Network (SWWAN) endorsed AtMP's submitted comment.  SWANN Founder and Executive Director Barbara Payne says, "It's crazy to force isolation on single people who don't have significant others by barring them from having beloved friends visit them in the hospital."

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The Alternatives to Marriage Project is a national nonprofit advocacy organization with over 8,500 members in all 50 states. AtMP represents all unmarried people, including singles, partners and parents, people who aren't married yet, aren't married any more, and aren't legally allowed to marry. AtMP works to end discrimination on the basis of marital status, and to relieve and reduce the stigma against being single or unmarried. More at www.unmarried.org.