Bill
HB 6595
HB 6595 requires inpatient psychiatric units to provide internet access and permit patients to use personal cell phones during treatment, with safety and privacy protections.
HB 6595 — Summary
Overview and Intent
- Title: AN ACT REQUIRING PATIENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND THEIR PERSONAL CELLULAR TELEPHONE WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF A PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITY.
- Purpose (as inferred from the title): To ensure that patients receiving treatment for a psychiatric disability in hospitals have access to the internet and are allowed to use their personal cellular phones during their hospital stay.
Current Status
- Introduced: January 24, 2025
- Status: Referenced to the Joint Committee on Public Health for consideration and potential action.
What the Bill Would Change
- Core requirement: Hospitals would be obligated to ensure patients undergoing treatment for psychiatric conditions have access to the internet and to permit the use of their personal cellular phones while hospitalized.
- Scope of access: The measure appears to cover internet access and use of personal cell phones for patients in inpatient psychiatric care; exact definitions (e.g., “access,” whether 24/7 availability is required, or any unit-specific restrictions) would be clarified in the bill’s text.
- Policy framework: The bill would likely establish hospital compliance obligations, with potential procedural rules, enforcement mechanisms, and any safety/privacy protections. Specific exceptions, patient eligibility criteria, and implementation details would be defined in the full text.
Who Would Be Affected
- Hospitals and health care facilities that provide inpatient care to patients with psychiatric disabilities.
- Patients receiving psychiatric treatment who would gain guaranteed access to the internet and protection to use their personal cell phones during hospitalization.
- Hospital staff and administrators who would implement and enforce the new requirements (policy development, training, and monitoring).
Implementation Considerations and Timeline
- The bill’s text would specify timelines for compliance, any phased rollout, and whether existing hospital policies must be amended.
- Potential operational considerations include ensuring secure, reliable internet access, safeguarding patient privacy and safety, and addressing security of personal devices on hospital networks.
Potential Impacts and Questions for Stakeholders
- Benefits: Improved patient communication with family, access to telehealth or digital resources, and greater autonomy for patients.
- Risks and concerns: Privacy protections, patient safety on psychiatric units, hospital network security, and cost implications for facilities.
- Open questions: What constitutes “access to the internet” (wi-fi, cellular data, device restrictions), how access is balanced with safety protocols, and how exceptions are handled (emergency situations, unit-specific restrictions).
Next Steps
- Monitor the bill’s progression through the Public Health committee for amendments, fiscal notes, and final text to understand the full, enforceable requirements.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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