Requires the department of health to promulgate rules and regulations concerning patients and others with a hearing impairment

8 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Liz Krueger
• George Onorato
• Bill Perkins
• John L. Sampson
• Toby Ann Stavisky

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to authorizing the health department to develop regulations pertaining to hospital patients and responsible persons with a hearing impairment

Purpose or general idea of bill

To authorize the Department of Health to develop regulations pertaining to deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing hospital patients, or patients of minor age whose parents or guardians are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing.

Justification

Most deaf people tend to be cut off from auditory and written modes of information exchange. As a result of the intercultural attitude barriers that keep deaf people isolated within the deaf communities, and the barriers imposed by communication problems, it is difficult to estimate the degree and range of communication difficulties or even the strategies deaf people may have evolved in order to access and use medical services. Despite federal statutes mandating accessible health and mental health care for disabled persons (e.g. Americans with Disabilities Act P.L.101-136), this service need of deaf Americans remains profoundly underserved. This is also very true for deaf-blind and hard of hearing people, especially in medical settings.

Deaf people encounter barriers to the use of routinely provided health and medical services that do not exist for hearing people. It is especially important for health professionals (nurses, doctors, admission office personnel, social workers, and pharmacists) to realize that deaf people communicate in different ways, depending on several factors including: language skills; amount of residual hearing; speechreading skills and speech abilities. Deaf-blind patients need interpreter services appropriate to them. Hard of hearing patients need assistive listening devices.

The health and mental health needs of the deaf population are comparable to their hearing counterparts. However, barriers of communication, insensitivity to deaf culture, general lack of information about the deaf population and limited training related to the unique needs of deaf people have resulted in a scarcity of effective health services for deaf people. Trust and communication are perhaps the two greatest factors in improving health services for the deaf population. There is a strong "grapevine" effect in the deaf community. Hearing health professionals ,:",n build an atmosphere of trust through clear communication and sensitivity with deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing individuals.

It is likely that lack of trust and difficulty in communication inhibits many people from receiving adequate health care. Health services must be completely accessible--socially, psychologically, and communicatively-to deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people, in order for them to be comfortable enough to use them. Without special services tailored to the unique communication needs of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people, their medical and other health needs will continue to be largely unmet and health communication problems will go on being undiscovered and unremediated.

Fiscal implications

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE .up off; : This act shall take effect January first next succeeding the date it becomes law; provided that any regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date shall be promulgated on or before that date.