Mansfield Times

The Ohio Senate Health Committee has held its second hearing on the Never Alone Act, a legislative initiative sponsored by State Representatives Melanie Miller and Beth Lear. The bill, known as House Bill 236, was previously passed unanimously in the Ohio House with an 88-0 vote.

The purpose of the legislation is to ensure that every patient in a hospital, nursing home, or similar care setting has access to an advocate, particularly during health emergencies. Representative Miller emphasized the importance of this step: “This is another step in the right direction to protect the rights of a patient to have access to a loved one or advocate to act on behalf of their best interest while in a hospital or care facility.”

The Never Alone Act includes several key provisions:

- It mandates that congregate care settings inform patients or residents about their right to designate an individual as an advocate.

- It prohibits these settings from denying access to an advocate or preventing them from being physically present with the patient or resident.

- It bars any political subdivision, public official, or state agency from enforcing orders that would contravene the bill's provisions.

- The Department of Health is required to create a Never Alone information sheet for distribution at admission in each congregate care setting.

Further hearings on the Never Alone Act will continue within the Senate Health Committee.