NHHA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
October 21, 2004
Preview of 2005 Legislation
Legislators are submitting bill titles for legislation they intend to introduce in January, 2005. Once the election is over, many more bills will be added. So far, the following issues of interest to hospitals will appear on next year’s legislative agenda. The actual bills will not be finalized for another couple of months.
· New Hampshire Quality Assurance Commission: A bill was drafted by the Medical Errors Commission for the purpose of establishing a quality assurance commission responsible for the collection, analysis and dissemination of quality assurance information on a statewide basis. The New Hampshire Quality Assurance Commission would review and analyze quality of care issues and propose changes to improve care. Information will be confidential and protected.
· Reporting of Hospital Infection Rates: This bill is the result of a nationwide grassroots effort to require public disclosure of hospital-acquired infection rates. This legislation is being proposed in several states. We believe that the Medicare Hospital Quality Initiative meets the spirit of what the proposed bill intends to accomplish by publishing hospital quality information.
· Small Group Insurance: Several bills are being proposed to deal with some of the fallout of the passage of Senate Bill 110, which has disproportionately impacted many of New Hampshire’s small businesses with sharp increases in the cost of their health insurance. These bills are:
“Relative to
small group insurers”
“Relative to geographic location for small group
insurance coverage”.
· Medical Malpractice Reform: Following the failure last year to pass malpractice reform legislation, several bills will be introduced:
“Relative to
medical malpractice;
“Relative to tort cases and legal fees”;
“Relative to the creation of mandatory panel for medical
injury claims”.
· Mandatory Overtime: A study committee was formed last session to look into medical errors associated with medical residents’ work hours. The committee looked into nursing overtime, and is proposing limits on mandatory overtime.
Go to http://www.nhha.org/nhha/state_law/bills.php to view the list of bills NHHA will be tracking in 2005. Additional bills will be added as we become aware of them.
