HF 2735

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/08/2023 09:36am

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing the right of hospitalized patients to receive treatment
from their own doctors; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.6511] RIGHT OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TO RECEIVE
TREATMENT FROM THEIR OWN DOCTORS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Authorized to treat" means the authority of licensed physicians and other licensed
health care practitioners to write orders, prescribe medication and other treatments, order
consultations, and discharge the patient among other treatment modalities.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Current relationship" means a period in the last five years that the patient was treated
by or communicated with the licensed physician or other licensed health care practitioner.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Disciplinary action" means any action taken by a health-related licensing board
against a licensee, including but not limited to revocation, limitation, suspension, or denial
of a license or any other disciplinary action taken by a health-related licensing board against
the licensee for unprofessional conduct.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Hospital privileges" means the authority given by hospitals to licensed physicians
and other licensed health care practitioners to admit and treat hospitalized patients.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin General provisions. new text end

new text begin (a) Patients have a right to be admitted to a hospital and
treated during hospitalization by the licensed physician or other licensed health care
practitioner with whom they have a current relationship.
new text end

new text begin (b) At the request of a hospitalized patient, or if the patient is unable to make the request,
at the request of the spouse of the patient, a parent of the patient, the patient's guardian, or
the patient's power of attorney, a licensed physician or other licensed health care practitioner
with whom the patient has a current relationship is authorized to treat the patient.
new text end

new text begin (c) A physician licensed by this state's licensing board may not face disciplinary action
solely for treating a patient with whom they have a current relationship in a hospital where
they do not have hospital privileges.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end