​Effective January 1, 2026, GACHs must allow a patient with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, a patient with cognitive impairment, including dementia, and a patient with another disability, as necessary to allow the patient to fully and equally benefit from any goods, services, or facilities offered by the hospital to have a family or friend caregiver visit, as needed, including outside of visiting hours, unless the caregiver would endanger health and safety or otherwise disrupt the delivery of medical care.

If circumstances require the GACH to restrict visitor access, the GACH must allow  visitation, such that the patient receives goods and services equally, while the GACH still maintains patient, visitor, and staff health and safety.

GACHs may impose legitimate health and safety requirements on visitors, including, masking, excluding sick visitors, limiting access to certain areas of the facility, and prohibiting the visitor from bringing in prohibited items.

During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, a health emergency declared by the State Public Health Officer, or a local health emergency declared by a local health officer GACHs must follow all applicable orders and restrictions on patient visitation to limit contact with patients or staff at GACHs to prevent or limit the spread of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease.

Facilities are responsible for following all applicable laws. CDPH's failure to expressly notify facilities of statutory or regulatory requirements does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and regulations. Facilities should refer to the full text of all applicable sections of the Health and Safety Code and Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

If you have any questions about this AFL, please contact your local district office.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Mandi Posner

Mandi Posner
Deputy Director​