South Ohio News

The Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 236, known as the Never Alone Act, last week. State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) announced the passage and noted his role as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The Act aims to ensure that every patient has access to an advocate in hospitals, nursing homes, or other congregate care settings, particularly during health emergencies. This legislative move is a direct response to the challenges observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Never Alone Act ensures every patient has a voice," said Pizzulli. "It was devastating to see so many individuals suffer alone during the COVID pandemic, and this legislation will ensure it does not happen again. It’s important that every patient has someone advocating for their needs when they are not able to."

The specific provisions of the Never Alone Act include:

1. Requiring congregate care settings to inform patients or residents that they may designate an individual as an advocate and provide them with the opportunity to make such a designation.

2. Prohibiting congregate care settings from denying patients or residents access to an advocate and preventing advocates from being physically present with patients or residents.

3. Banning political subdivisions, public officials, or state agencies from issuing orders or rules that would require care settings to violate the bill’s provisions or enforcing federal orders that do so.

4. Mandating the Department of Health to create a Never Alone information sheet and requiring each congregate care setting to provide this sheet to patients or residents upon admission.

The bill now proceeds to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.