Medicare requires all hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to have written visitation policies that explain patients’ rights to choose who may visit them during their inpatient stay, regardless of whether the visitor is a family member, spouse, domestic partner (including same-sex), or another individual. Patients also have the right to withdraw visitation consent at any time. These rules are designed to ensure equal visitation rights for all patients and are enforced as part of hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs)[4][8].
However, specific hospital visiting hours and restrictions vary by institution and even by department within a hospital. For example, Mass General Brigham acute care hospitals allow two visitors at a time per patient between 9 AM and 9 PM, with no time restriction for pediatric support persons or those supporting patients with disabilities[3]. Some hospitals, like BIDMC of Boston, have visiting hours from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with visitors expected to arrive before 7:45 PM and specific rules about room occupancy and high-risk patient units[2]. Emergency department visitor access, pediatric visitation, and rules for surgical escorts also differ by facility[2].
Hospitals may place further restrictions on visitation for reasons such as infection control or specific patient circumstances. For instance, behavioral health units often have limited visiting times and stricter rules, while emergency departments may restrict the number of visitors according to patient acuity and department volume[1]. During outbreaks of respiratory or infectious illnesses, hospitals may require visitors and patients to wear masks and practice physical distancing[1].
Medicare inpatients or their representatives must receive a standardized notice (“An Important Message from Medicare”) about their rights, including visitation, within two days of admission[6].
It is always recommended to check the specific hospital’s website or contact the hospital directly for the most current visiting hours and visitation policies before planning a visit.