A. The governing body of a nursing home facility required to be licensed under the provisions of Article 1 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of this chapter, through the administrator of such facility, shall cause to be promulgated policies and procedures to ensure that, at the minimum, each patient admitted to such facility:
1. Is fully informed, as evidenced by the patient's written acknowledgment, prior to or at the time of admission and during his stay, of his rights and of all rules and regulations governing patient conduct and responsibilities;
2. Is fully informed, as evidenced by the patient's written acknowledgment, prior to or at the time of admission and during his stay, of services available in the facility, the terms of such services, and related charges, including any charges for services not covered under Titles XVIII or XIX of the United States Social Security Act or not covered by the facility's basic per diem rate;
3. Is fully informed in summary form of the findings concerning the facility in federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services surveys and investigations, if any;
4. Is fully informed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner of his medical condition unless medically contraindicated as documented by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in his medical record and is afforded the opportunity to participate in the planning of his medical treatment and to refuse to participate in experimental research;
5. Is transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, or for his welfare or that of other patients, or for nonpayment for his stay except as prohibited by Titles XVIII or XIX of the United States Social Security Act, and is given reasonable advance notice as provided in § 32.1-138.1 to ensure orderly transfer or discharge, and such actions are documented in his medical record;
6. Is encouraged and assisted, throughout the period of his stay, to exercise his rights as a patient and as a citizen and to this end may voice grievances and recommend changes in policies and services to facility staff and to outside representatives of his choice, free from restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal;
7. May manage his personal financial affairs, or may have access to records of financial transactions made on his behalf at least once a month and is given at least a quarterly accounting of financial transactions made on his behalf should the facility accept his written delegation of this responsibility to the facility for any period of time in conformance with state law;
8. Is free from mental and physical abuse and free from chemical and, except in emergencies, physical restraints except as authorized in writing by a physician for a specified and limited period of time or when necessary to protect the patient from injury to himself or to others;
9. Is assured confidential treatment of his personal and medical records and may approve or refuse their release to any individual outside the facility, except in case of his transfer to another health care institution or as required by law or third-party payment contract;
10. Is treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of his dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and in care for his personal needs;
11. Is not required to perform services for the facility that are not included for therapeutic purposes in his plan of care;
12. May associate and communicate privately with persons of his choice and send and receive his personal mail unopened, unless medically contraindicated as documented by his physician in his medical record;
13. May meet with and participate in activities of social, religious and community groups at his discretion, unless medically contraindicated as documented by his physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in his medical record;
14. May retain and use his personal clothing and possessions as space permits unless to do so would infringe upon rights of other patients and unless medically contraindicated as documented by his physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in his medical record;
15. If married, is assured privacy for visits by his or her spouse and if both are inpatients in the facility, is permitted to share a room with such spouse unless medically contraindicated as documented by the attending physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in the medical record; and
16. Is fully informed, as evidenced by the written acknowledgment of the resident or his legal representative, prior to or at the time of admission and during his stay, that he should exercise whatever due diligence he deems necessary with respect to information on any sexual offenders registered pursuant to Chapter 9 (§ 9.1-900 et seq.) of Title 9.1, including how to obtain such information. Upon request, the nursing home facility shall assist the resident, prospective resident, or the legal representative of the resident or prospective resident in accessing this information and provide the resident, prospective resident, or the legal representative of the resident or prospective resident with printed copies of the requested information.
B. All established policies and procedures regarding the rights and responsibilities of patients shall be printed in at least 12-point type and posted conspicuously in a public place in all nursing home facilities required to be licensed under the provisions of Article 1 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of this chapter. These policies and procedures shall include the name and telephone number of the complaint coordinator in the Division of Licensure and Certification of the Virginia Department of Health, the Adult Protective Services' toll-free telephone number, as well as the toll-free telephone number for the Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and any substate ombudsman program serving the area. Copies of such policies and procedures shall be given to patients upon admittance to the facility and made available to patients currently in residence, to any guardians, responsible party as defined in regulation, next of kin, or sponsoring agency or agencies, and to the public.
C. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to restrict any right that any patient in residence has under law.
D. Each facility shall provide appropriate staff training to implement each patient's rights included in subsection A hereof.
E. All rights and responsibilities specified in subsection A hereof and § 32.1-138.1 as they pertain to (i) a patient adjudicated incapacitated in accordance with state law, (ii) a patient who is found, by his physician, to be medically incapable of understanding these rights, or (iii) a patient who is unable to communicate with others shall devolve to such patient's guardian, responsible party as defined in regulation, next of kin, sponsoring agency or agencies, or representative payee, except when the facility itself is representative payee, selected pursuant to section 205(j) of Title II of the United States Social Security Act. The persons to whom such rights and responsibilities have devolved shall be deemed to have legal authority to act on the patient's behalf with respect to the matters specified in this section.
F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prescribe, regulate, or control the remedial care and treatment or nursing service provided to any patient in a nursing institution to which the provisions of § 32.1-128 are applicable.
G. It shall be the responsibility of the Commissioner to insure that the provisions of this section and the provisions of § 32.1-138.1 are observed and implemented by nursing home facilities. Each nursing home facility to which this section and § 32.1-138.1 are applicable shall certify to the Commissioner that it is in compliance with the provisions of this section and the provisions of § 32.1-138.1 as a condition to the issuance or renewal of the license required by Article 1 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of this chapter.
Code 1950, § 32-296.1; 1976, c. 349; 1979, c. 711; 1987, c. 221; 1997, c. 801; 1999, c. 783; 2000, c. 177; 2004, c. 855; 2006, c. 396; 2007, cc. 120, 163; 2010, c. 57.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 5 - Regulation of Medical Care Facilities and Services
§ 32.1-125.01. Failing to report; penalty
§ 32.1-125.1. Inspection of hospitals by state agencies generally
§ 32.1-125.2. Disclosure of other providers of services
§ 32.1-125.4. Retaliation or discrimination against complainants
§ 32.1-125.5. Confidentiality of complainant's identity
§ 32.1-126.02. Hospital pharmacy employees; criminal records check required
§ 32.1-126.1. Asbestos inspection for hospitals
§ 32.1-126.2. Fire suppression systems required in nursing facilities and nursing homes
§ 32.1-126.3. Fire suppression systems required in hospitals
§ 32.1-126.4. Hospital standing orders or protocols for certain vaccinations
§ 32.1-126.5. Consolidation of inspections
§ 32.1-127.01. Regulations to authorize certain sanctions and guidelines
§ 32.1-127.1. Immunity from liability for routine referral for organ and tissue donation
§ 32.1-127.1:01. Record storage
§ 32.1-127.1:03. Health records privacy
§ 32.1-127.1:04. Use or disclosure of certain protected health information required
§ 32.1-127.1:05. Breach of medical information notification
§ 32.1-127.3. Immunity from liability for certain free health care services
§ 32.1-128. Applicability to hospitals and nursing homes for practice of religious tenets
§ 32.1-129. Application for license
§ 32.1-131. Expiration and renewal of licenses
§ 32.1-133. Display of license
§ 32.1-133.1. Human trafficking hotline; posted notice required; civil penalty
§ 32.1-134. Family planning information in hospitals providing maternity care
§ 32.1-134.01. Certain information required for maternity patients
§ 32.1-134.02. Infants; blood sample provided to parents
§ 32.1-134.2. Clinical privileges for certain practitioners
§ 32.1-134.3. Response to applications for clinical privileges
§ 32.1-134.4. Right of podiatrists or nurse practitioners to injunction
§ 32.1-135.1. Certain advertisements prohibited
§ 32.1-135.2. Offer or payment of remuneration in exchange for referral prohibited
§ 32.1-136. Violation; penalties
§ 32.1-137. Certification of medical care facilities under Title XVIII of Social Security Act
§ 32.1-137.01. Posting of charity care policies
§ 32.1-137.02. Hospital discharge procedures
§ 32.1-137.03. Discharge planning; designation of individual to provide care
§ 32.1-137.04. Patient notice of observation or outpatient status
§ 32.1-137.06. Lyme disease test result information
§ 32.1-137.07. Violations of certain provisions; penalty
§ 32.1-137.08. Medical care facilities; persons with disabilities; designated support persons
§ 32.1-137.09. Hospital emergency department CPT code data reporting
§ 32.1-137.010. Financial assistance; payment plans
§ 32.1-137.2. Certification of quality assurance; application; issuance; denial; renewal
§ 32.1-137.4. Examination, review or investigation
§ 32.1-137.6. Complaint system
§ 32.1-137.8. Application to and compliance by utilization review entities
§ 32.1-137.9. Requirements and standards for utilization review entities
§ 32.1-137.10. Utilization review plan required
§ 32.1-137.11. Accessibility of utilization review entity
§ 32.1-137.13. Adverse determination
§ 32.1-137.14. Reconsideration of adverse determination
§ 32.1-137.15. Adverse determination; appeal
§ 32.1-137.17. Limitation on Commissioner's jurisdiction
§ 32.1-138.1. Implementation of transfer and discharge policies
§ 32.1-138.2. Certain contract provisions prohibited
§ 32.1-138.3. Third party guarantor prohibition
§ 32.1-138.4. Retaliation or discrimination against complainants
§ 32.1-138.5. Confidentiality of complainant's identity
§ 32.1-138.7. Certificates of registration required; issuance; transferability; regulations
§ 32.1-138.8. Consultation with health regulatory boards
§ 32.1-138.9. Standards for approval
§ 32.1-138.10. Expiration; renewal
§ 32.1-138.11. Denial; revocation
§ 32.1-138.12. Waiver of requirements of article
§ 32.1-138.13. Access to and confidentiality of patient-specific medical records and information
§ 32.1-138.14. No private right of action created
§ 32.1-162.2. Exemptions from article
§ 32.1-162.3. License required for hospice programs; notice of denial of license; renewal thereof
§ 32.1-162.5:1. Notice to dispenser of patient's death; disposition of dispensed drugs
§ 32.1-162.6. Revocation or suspension of license
§ 32.1-162.6:1. Possession or administration of cannabis oil
§ 32.1-162.8. Exemptions from article
§ 32.1-162.9. Licenses required; renewal thereof
§ 32.1-162.10. Inspections; fees
§ 32.1-162.11. Liability insurance required
§ 32.1-162.13. Revocation or suspension of license
§ 32.1-162.15. Violation; penalties
§ 32.1-162.15:1. Unlawful advertising as a home care organization
§ 32.1-162.15:2. (Effective July 1, 2023) Definitions
§ 32.1-162.15:3. (Effective July 1, 2023) Services for survivors of sexual assault; plan required
§ 32.1-162.15:4. (For effective date, see Acts 2020, c 725) Treatment services
§ 32.1-162.15:5. Transfer services
§ 32.1-162.15:7. (Effective July 1, 2023) Inspections; report required
§ 32.1-162.15:9. (Effective July 1, 2023) Submission of evidence
§ 32.1-162.15:10. (Effective July 1, 2023) Complaints
§ 32.1-162.15:11. Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault