Dear Administrator: Visual Aid Law - Amendment to the Public Health Law made by Chapter 92 of the Laws of 2014

December 10, 2015

Dear Administrator:

This letter is to inform you about an amendment to the Public Health Law made by Chapter 92 of the Laws of 2014, effective October 20, 2014. The law requires hospitals to accommodate requests by blind or visually impaired patients concerning preadmission and discharge information. A copy of the law is attached.

Preadmission information

The law requires that any hospital that provides preadmission information to a patient, shall offer a blind or visually impaired patient a large print version or, at the patient's or patient's

representative's request, an audio recording, to be made available to such patient or such patient's representative on compact disc or other medium as the hospital may offer, or as an electronically transmitted digital file, in addition to a written copy of any preadmission information.

Discharge Information

The law requires a hospital to offer to provide the patient's discharge plan in a large print

version or, at the patient's or patient's representative's request, as an audio recording, to be made available to such patient or such patient's representative on compact disc or other medium as the hospital may offer, or as an electronically transmitted digital file, in addition to a written copy of the discharge plan.

In addition, hospitals must comply with the requirements of NYCRR Title 10 Part 405.2, concerning maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and the requirements of Part 405.7 related to patients' rights. If you have questions concerning the law, you may direct them to the Division of Hospitals and Diagnostic Treatment Centers, 875 Central Avenue, Albany NY 12206, 518-402-1004. Thank you in advance for your attention to the new requirements.

Sincerely,

Ruth Leslie
Director
Division of Hospitals and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers

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