HB 1894 -- OVERDUE PATIENT ACCOUNTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

SPONSOR:  Bringer

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Judiciary by a vote of 12 to 0.

Currently, an overdue patient account submitted to a court for
collection must be certified by the head of a residential
facility or day program, with the seal of the institution
attached, in order to constitute prima facie evidence of the
amount due.  This bill requires the certification to be completed
by the Director of the Department of Mental Health or his or her
designee instead of the head of the facility or program.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2011, FY 2012, and
FY 2013.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that a court recently found that the
department's current practice does not conform with the procedure
in statutes.  The bill makes the department's actions consistent
with the statutes.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Burnett for
Representative Bringer; and Department of Mental Health.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm