Requires a large-print version, or the patient's request an audio recording of the discharge plan and preadmission information to be provided to all blind and visually impaired patients according to the preference of such patient or such patient's representative.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A746A
SPONSOR: Rosenthal (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to
providing all blind and visually impaired patients with a large print
version or, upon request of the patient, with an audio recording of the
discharge plan and preadmission information
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill directs hospitals to
provide all blind and visually impaired patients with an audio recording
of their discharge plan.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section one adds a new subdivision 9
to section 2803-i of the public health law that directs hospitals to
provide all blind and visually impaired patients with an audio recording
of their discharge plan.
Section two sets out the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION: It is often difficult for patients to remember the
extensive instructions given to them by their doctors upon discharge
from a hospital. Blind or visually impaired patients might also have
trouble writing down instructions, which would compound the difficulty
of remembering them. This bill requires hospitals to provide blind and
visually impaired patients with a large-print version, or upon their
request, an audio recording of their discharge plan so they will have
access to their doctor's instructions once they leave the hospital. This
bill is necessary to ensure that such patients are able to access and
follow the instructions given by their doctors.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.1469A of 2011-2012; A6671B of 2009-2010.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Undetermined
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after
it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
746--A
Cal. No. 7
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, MILLMAN, JAFFEE, COOK, MAISEL,
BOYLAND, WEPRIN, GOTTFRIED -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK,
JACOBS, SWEENEY, WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Health -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading,
amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of
third reading
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing all
blind and visually impaired patients with a large print version or,
upon request of the patient, with an audio recording of the discharge
plan and preadmission information
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 9 of section 2803-i of the public health law is
2 renumbered subdivision 10 and a new subdivision 9 is added to read as
3 follows:
4 9. Upon discharge of a blind or visually impaired patient, a hospital
5 shall offer to provide the patient's discharge plan in a large print
6 version or, at the patient's or patient's representative's request, as
7 an audio recording, to be made available to such patient or such
8 patient's representative on compact disc or other medium as the hospital
9 may offer, or as an electronically transmitted digital file, in addition
10 to a written copy of the discharge plan.
11 § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2803-t
12 to read as follows:
13 § 2803-t. Preadmission information. Any hospital that provides pread-
14 mission information to a patient, shall offer a blind or visually
15 impaired patient a large print version or, at the patient's or patient's
16 representative's request, an audio recording, to be made available to
17 such patient or such patient's representative on compact disc or other
18 medium as the hospital may offer, or as an electronically transmitted
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02139-02-3
A. 746--A 2
1 digital file, in addition to a written copy of any preadmission informa-
2 tion.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
4 have become a law.
