Breaking News: President Obama orders hospitals to grant same-sex couples visitation rights
News Alert: Obama orders hospitals to grant same-sex couples visitation rights
From The Washington Post
President Obama signed an order Thursday night requiring hospitals to allow gays and lesbians to have non-family visitors and to grant their partners medical power of attorney.
The president ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination in hospital visitation. The memo is scheduled to be made public Friday morning, according to an administration official and another source familiar with the White House decision.
An official said the new rule will affect any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding.