Bill > AB894

This bill requires general acute care hospitals to inform patients or their legal representatives, at the time of admission or as soon as possible in cases of patient incapacity or emergency, about their right to restrict or prohibit the use of their protected health information in the hospital's patient directory. Hospitals must provide this information in two ways: first, through a separate document with a checkbox allowing patients to restrict directory information, and second, by having hospital personnel verbally explain the patient's rights. The information must be made available in the top five non-English languages used in the hospital's service area. The bill defines a "patient's representative" as someone with legal authority to make medical decisions on the patient's behalf. The new requirements will become operative on July 1, 2026, and are designed to enhance patient privacy by ensuring individuals are explicitly informed about and can control the sharing of their personal health information in hospital directories. Because the bill creates potential new criminal penalties for non-compliance, it is considered a state-mandated local program, but the bill specifies that no reimbursement will be required for implementation.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB894