This bill, known as "Grace’s Law," aims to enhance the rights of individuals with communication disabilities and establish standards for patient transfers from freestanding hospital emergency facilities to acute care hospitals. It introduces a new section to RSA 171-A, affirming that individuals with communication disabilities have the right to select and utilize their preferred method of communication, which may include augmentative and alternative communication techniques, sign language, and assistive technology. Service providers, including schools and residential programs, are required to make reasonable efforts to accommodate these communication preferences.

Additionally, the bill amends RSA 151 to set forth standards for transferring patients from freestanding hospital emergency facilities. It prohibits coercive transfer practices and mandates that transfer decisions be based on clinical appropriateness, patient safety, and patient choice. The bill also reinforces compliance with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and grants the attorney general the authority to enforce violations of these standards. Key definitions related to transfers and prohibited practices are included, ensuring that patients are informed of their options and that transfers are not unduly influenced by hospital affiliations or insurance status.