HCS HB 508 -- HOSPITAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

SPONSOR:  Schaaf

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Healthcare Facilities by a vote of 6 to 0.

This substitute requires any hospital, peer review organization,
or the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations that receives a complaint about hospital care to
forward it to the Department of Health and Senior Services.  The
department is allowed to inquire into any complaint that was not
investigated by the forwarding organization.  Any organization
violating the provisions of the substitute will be fined up to
$500 for the first offense, and the fine for any second or
subsequent offense will increase by $1,000 for each violation.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Greater
than $100,000 in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.  No impact on
Other State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the state should check into
uninvestigated complaints and a fine should be imposed on
organizations that don't investigate complaints.  Patients want
their concerns validated.  The regulatory system needs to be
responsible for the investigation and review of a patient's chart
to make sure that proper care was given.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Schaaf; and Elizabeth
Schoenlaub.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the scope of the
bill is too broad and needs to be focused.  If there is a
significant number of complaints, problems for the hospital
licensure board could result.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Hospital Association.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am