(a) In accordance with Arkansas Code § 20-6-407:

1. (1) A psychiatric residential treatment facility shall allow visitation as needed by the resident to alleviate physical or mental distress;
2. (2) Personal contact with a resident is permitted during visitation if the psychiatric residential treatment facility protocol is followed;
3. (3) A psychiatric residential treatment facility shall work with residents, families, caregivers, resident representatives, and medical providers, and may include the ombudsman program under Arkansas Code § 20-10-602 to identify the need for visitation, using a person-centered approach that takes the resident’s requests into account;

4. (4) The psychiatric residential treatment facility may limit:

   1. (A) The number of visitors per resident at a time based on the size of the building and physical space; and
   2. (B) Movement in the psychiatric residential treatment facility, such as requiring the visitor to go directly to the resident’s room or designated visitation area.

(b) In accordance with Arkansas Code § 20-6-411, a psychiatric residential treatment facility may establish visitation policies that limit or restrict visitation when:

1. (1) The presence of visitors would be medically or therapeutically contraindicated;
2. (2) The presence of visitors would interfere with the care of or rights of any resident;
3. (3) Visitors are engaging in disruptive, threatening, or violent behavior toward any staff member, resident, or other visitor; or
4. (4) Visitors are noncompliant with the psychiatric residential treatment facility policy.

(c) The psychiatric residential treatment facility shall provide immediate access at any time to the resident by:

1. (1) A representative of the Office of Long-Term Care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Department of Human Services or the department’s contractor;
2. (2) The resident’s physician; and
3. (3) The resident’s representative.

(d)

1. (1) The right to visit or be visited by family and friends is subject only to reasonable rules and to any specific restrictions in the resident’s treatment plan.
2. (2) Special restrictions shall be imposed only to prevent serious harm to the resident.
3. (3) The reasons for any special restrictions shall be recorded in the resident’s treatment plan.