that receive federal funds. the presidential memo also guarantees patients' advanced directives such as who should make health care decisions if the patient can't. the department of health and human services has also been asked to check into other health care barriers. no one knows just how painful those barriers can be than janice langben. her partner lisa died three years ago while the couple was vacationing in florida. even though the cup hell been together for 17 years and raised four children, langben was denied visitation rights almost the entire time her partner was hospitalized. she described that emotional ordeal last night to cnn's anderson cooper. >> tell us a little bit about what happened to you. you and your kids were with your partner in florida. you were there for a cruise, for a trip. lisa collapsed and she was taken to the hospital. i mean, how did they say that you weren't allowed to see her? >> my partner collapsed and when she got to the hospital which was about 3:00, 3:30 florida