HCS HB 1080 -- AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS

SPONSOR:  Schaaf

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Healthcare Facilities by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute establishes criteria for hospital governing
bodies granting staff privileges.  A hospital governing body will
not refuse to grant or renew staff privileges because the
individual or individual's spouse or employees are providing
medical or health care services, or have an ownership or other
financial interest in another hospital, excluding a specialty
hospital located in Missouri, or a competing ambulatory surgical
center.

For patient safety, physicians, dentists, or podiatrists who
perform procedures in an ambulatory surgical center that competes
with a hospital are required to maintain staff privileges at a
hospital in the same community; be responsible for admitting
their patients; and serve on the hospital's on-call roster as
other credentialed practitioners are required.

The substitute defines "hospital governing body," "medical
staff," and "same community," and "specialty hospitals."

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say the bill is necessary to promote
competition as a means of reducing the costs of health care.
Competition will keep costs low and improve the quality of care
for patients.  Ambulatory surgical centers can perform services
at a much lower cost to the patient.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Schaaf; Missouri
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association; Missouri Podiatric Medical
Association; Missouri State Medical Association; Missouri Chapter
of the American College of Cardiology; Missouri Association of
Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons; Dr. Tom Reinsel; Dr. Jeffrey
P. Turk; Mary Dupree Wolf, MSN; and Richard Remis.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that patients are best
served when they go to the nearest hospital.  Going to the
emergency room is quite different than having somebody being able
to admit you.  The best alternative is to specify that a person
could not be denied privileges if he or she is clinically
qualified and will provide on-call service.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Hospital Association.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am