HB 1609 -- Emergency Triage Guidelines for Care

Sponsor:  Cooper (155)

This bill establishes emergency triage guidelines for care and
the Emergency Triage Guidelines for Care Task Force within the
Department of Health and Senior Services.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Specifies the meaning of "emergency triage guidelines for
care";

(2)  Requires the department to develop guidelines for health
care providers to implement and follow in their emergency triage
guidelines for care plans;

(3)  Requires that the department's emergency guidelines include
tiers that recognize the severity of health threats during
emergencies;

(4)  Grants civil immunity to a health care provider practicing
in a declared state of emergency.  This immunity does not include
acts of negligence or willful omissions;

(5)  Requires the task force to recommend emergency triage
guidelines for care and develop recommendations regarding the
waiver or suspension of any statutory restriction or
administrative rule regarding health care delivery during a
declared state of emergency;

(6)  Requires the Governor to obtain advice and guidance from the
task force when waiving or suspending statutory restrictions or
administrative rules regarding health care delivery in a declared
state of emergency;

(7)  Specifies principles for the task force to use to develop
guidelines;

(8)  Requires the department director to determine the membership
of the task force; and

(9)  Allows members of the General Assembly to participate in the
task force as ex officio members.

The provisions regarding the task force will expire August 30,
2009.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:10 pm