Bill > A05635

This bill amends the New York Public Health Law to require nursing homes to provide telephones capable of making both local and long-distance calls to patients, with the specific placement of the telephone (bedside or in the room) determined by the individual patient's mobility. The bill mandates that every nursing home patient have access to a telephone, subject to regulations set by the state commissioner of health. The new requirement will take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law, which allows nursing homes time to implement the new provision. By ensuring patients have direct access to telecommunications, the bill aims to improve patient communication, potentially enhancing their ability to contact family, friends, and healthcare providers, and supporting patient autonomy and connection to the outside world while receiving long-term care.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5635