Obama Extends Hospital Visitation Rights to Same-Sex Couples - April 22, 2010

On April 15, President Obama released a letter calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure hospitals do not discriminate against same-sex partners seeking hospital visitation rights. The mandate would apply to any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding, which impacts nearly every hospital in the country. Notably, the rule would not extend to VA hospitals, which are not funded by Medicare or Medicaid. Promulgation of rules by CMS, which also allows for visitation rights by unrelated friends or companions, will take several months.