DRP Successfully Advocates for Exceptions to Hospital COVID-19 Visitation Policies for Patients with Intellectual Disability

Hospital patients with disabilities across the country are being told by hospital staff that their support systems, people who regularly accompany them to medical appointments, are no longer allowed to provide assistance because of COVID-19 visitor restriction policies. Disability Rights Pennsylvania successfully advocated on behalf of people with disabilities in this situation.

DRP assisted an Allegheny County family gain access to visit an adult with intellectual disability in a hospital where she was receiving care after suffering major injuries as a result of a car accident. The patient had been denied a support person to help her understand and participate in her treatment. Through DRP’s advocacy, the hospital granted an exception to its COVID-19 visitation policy as required by federal anti-discrimination laws.

Similarly, DRP assisted the guardian of a person with an intellectual disability from Allegheny County to obtain an exception to the hospital’s COVID-19 visitation policy, as required by federal anti-discrimination laws. The patient had been denied a support person to help her understand and participate in her treatment.

DRP has established a COVID-19 hotline for people with disability-related questions or concerns about health care rationing, effective communication, and visitation policies. The hotline can be reached at 800-692-7443 ext. 402.

To read more about your hospital visitation rights, click on the icon of our resource below.