No Patient Left Alone Act; enact.

SB 2196, the "No Patient Left Alone Act," requires healthcare facilities to allow visitors for patients during admissions or residency under specific circumstances, including end-of-life care, emotional distress, or when a patient needs family assistance with eating/drinking. Facilities must develop alternate visitation plans during health/safety restrictions (while maximizing visits) and submit annual visitation policies to the Mississippi Department of Health for approval by January 1. Violations - such as failing to correct policy deficiencies or restricting visits without justification - can trigger administrative fines of at least $500 per violation, with each day of non-compliance counted separately. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and mandates facilities to inform patients of their visitation rights and provide contact details for reporting violations.