HB 1940 -- Hospital Patient Safety

Sponsor:  Page

This bill changes the laws regarding hospital patient safety.  In
its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires each hospital to establish a safe patient handling
committee by January 1, 2009, to design and recommend the process
for implementing a safe patient handling program;

(2)  Requires each hospital to establish a safe patient handling
program by July 1, 2009, to implement a safe handling policy for
all shifts, conduct a patient handling hazzard assessment,
conduct annual performance evaluations of the program, and
consider incorporating patient handling equipment in future
hospital remodels;

(3)  Requires each hospital, by January 1, 2012, to acquire their
choice of a specified minimum of patient lifting equipment and to
train staff on policies, equipment, and devices at least
annually;

(4)  Requires each hospital to develop procedures for employees
to refuse to perform or be involved in patient handling or
movement that will expose the patient or employee to an
unacceptable risk of injury; and

(5)  Requires the Division of Workers' Compensation within the
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to develop rules to
provide a reduced premium for hospitals that implement a safe
patient handling program by January 1, 2010, and to complete an
evaluation and report on the results of the reduced premium to
the appropriate committees of the General Assembly by December 1,
2013, and December 1, 2015.

The bill authorizes an income tax credit for hospitals that
purchase equipment used to implement a safe patient handling
program.  The amount of the tax credit will be up to 50% of the
cost of the mechanical lift devices or other equipment.  Tax
credit applications must be filed with the Department of Health
and Senior Services by October 31 of the year in which the
qualified purchase was made and the tax credit is claimed.  The
maximum credit allowed for each hospital is limited to $1,000 for
each available acute care inpatient bed.  The tax credit can be
carried forward for up to three years, but is not refundable.

No more than $10 million tax credits can be issued annually for
the program.  If applications for the tax credit exceed $10
million in any given year, the Department of Health and Senior
Services must notify hospitals that the annual limit has been
met.  No tax credits will be issued for the program after
December 30, 2013.  Beginning July 1, 2011, the bill requires the
department to issue an annual report on the amount of tax credits
claimed.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm