Va. Code 32.1-127 (rules for patient voice assistants in care facilities)
Virginia HB 2154 (2021 Sp. Sess. I) — Patient Access to Intelligent Personal Assistants in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Virginia · Va. Code 32.1-127; HB 2154 (2021 Sp. Sess. I), Va. Acts cc. 219, 233, 525
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2021
- Applies to
- Hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities licensed in Virginia.
- Enforced by
- Virginia Board of Health / Virginia Department of Health (facility licensure).
Virginia directed its Board of Health to write regulations requiring hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities to adopt policies on when and how a patient may use their own voice-driven 'intelligent personal assistant' (such as a smart speaker or AI digital assistant) during inpatient care, consistent with HIPAA. The statute defines an intelligent personal assistant as a device-and-software combination that uses natural language processing and AI.
Who is protected: Patients receiving inpatient services who use their own voice/AI assistant devices, and whose health information must be safeguarded.
Legal detail
Va. Code 32.1-127, as amended by HB 2154 (2021 Sp. Sess. I, cc. 219, 233, 525), requires the Board of Health to adopt regulations mandating that hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities establish policies on permissible patient access to and use of a patient-provided 'intelligent personal assistant' during inpatient services.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | March 18, 2021 |
| Citation | Va. Code 32.1-127; HB 2154 (2021 Sp. Sess. I), Va. Acts cc. 219, 233, 525 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | healthcare AI · consumer data privacy |
| Statute | Code of Virginia 32.1-127 — Regulations governing hospitals, nursing homes, etc. |
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