This is a great big bunch of hoo hah...since time began in America, a person has had the right to turn their funds to whomever they want to, family or not. A patient also has always had the right to have any visitor the patient prefers.
The rule was about keeping people who might exploit a drugged or otherwise helpless person out. It was assumed that family, married or blood, would have the best interest of the patient at heart.
Now if some stranger claims to be your gay lover then the hospital must allow them access to you up until the point that you are awake enough to say that you don't want them there. Hope you wake up before they take off with your watch and wallet.
Before you had to ask for them to be allowed in, now you must ask for them to be kept out.