In Pennsylvania, all hospitals must provide care to patients without regard to race, color, national origin, sex or sexual preference or religion.1  Additionally, all patients must be assigned to rooms and floors in accordance with their medical needs, and cannot be asked whether they are willing to share a room with a person of another race or religion.2  Patients in Pennsylvania hospitals also have the right to have access to an interpreter where possible if the patient does not speak English.3  Every hospital must have an admission policy setting forth nondiscriminatory practices with regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex or sexual preference and records, organized by race, showing the utilization of different facilities within the hospital.4

        With respect to indigent patients in Pennsylvania, all providers must offer and provide medically necessary, lifesaving and emergency health care services to every person in the state, regardless of financial status or ability to pay.5

        Finally, any Pennsylvania state agency may study and issue a report on the special medical needs, demographic characteristics, access or lack thereof to health care services and need for financing of health care services of senior citizens, low-income urban or rural areas, minority communities, women, children, unemployed workers, and veterans.6