BILL NUMBER:S328A

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:

The purpose of the bill is to direct hospitals to provide 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 in an effort to allow access to this
sensitive healthcare information while protecting patients' right to
privacy on such matters.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 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 a large print version or, at the patient's or
patient's representative's request, as an audio recording available on
either a compact disc, electronically transmitted digital file or
other medium offered by the hospital in addition to a written copy.

Section 2 adds a new section 2803-t of the public health law that
              

directs hospitals that provide preadmission information to a patient,
shall offer a blind or visually impaired patient a large print
version, or at the patient's or patient's representative's request, as
an audio recording available on either a compact disc, electronically
transmitted digital file or other medium offered by the hospital in
addition to a written copy.

Section 3 sets an effective date of ninety days following enactment of
the law.

JUSTIFICATION:

It is often difficult for patients to remember the extensive
instructions given to them by their doctors upon preadmission to and
discharge from hospital. Blind or visually impaired patients might
also have trouble writing down instructions, which would compound the
difficulty of remembering them. In addition, privacy to sensitive
private health information contained in these types of documents is
lost under current practices when hospital employees read this
information aloud to patients.

This bill requires hospitals to provide blind and visually impaired
patients with a large print version, or upon request an audio
recording, of their preadmission information and discharge plan so
they will have access to their doctors' 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 and
to protect their privacy of this sensitive information.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:.


2011-12, S.4325/A.1469-A(Rosenthal); 2009-10,
S.8170(Peralta)/A.6671-B(Rosenthal)

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Undetermined

EFFECTIVE DATE:'

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.