RESIDENT/PATIENT PHONE CALL

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Hospital Licensing Act. Upon request, requires long-term care facilities and hospitals to facilitate at least one phone call or video call between a resident or patient and a family member of the resident or patient each day during a pandemic or other public health emergency. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Provides that, upon request, a facility shall make every reasonable effort to facilitate at least one phone call or video call between a resident and a single family member of the resident each day during a disaster declared by the Governor under the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, unless doing so could pose a danger to residents or staff or redirect resources away from direct resident care and protection. Amends the Hospital Licensing Act. Provides that during a pandemic or other public health emergency, a hospital licensed under the Act shall develop and implement a contact policy to encourage patients' ability to engage with family members throughout the duration of the pandemic or other public health emergency, including through the use of phone calls, videos calls, or other electronic mechanism. Effective immediately.