Enhanced Patient Safety in Medicare: Right to Consent and Chaperones.
This law establishes new safety standards for healthcare providers participating in Medicare, effective January 1, 2026. Providers must now give patients written information about their right to informed consent and their ability to request a trained chaperone during sensitive medical procedures. This change aims to increase patient autonomy, ensure transparency, and protect individuals from potential abuse during care.
Key points
Medicare providers must give patients written notice detailing their right to informed consent regarding treatment and care planning.
Patients gain the formal right to request a trained staff member (chaperone) to be present during sensitive procedures, including intimate examinations.
Healthcare facilities must implement training programs for staff to ensure chaperones can act as witnesses, provide a safe environment, and report potential sexual abuse.
Introduced
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