WEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2672

By Delegates Tully and Summers

[Introduced February 23, 2021; Referred

to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend and reenact §16-5B-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to posting of safety information in hospitals.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5B. HOSPITALS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS.

§16-5B-8. State board of health to establish standards; director enforces.

(a) The board of health shall have the power to Bureau for Public Health may promulgate rules and regulations and the director commissioner shall have the power to enforce such rules and regulations, as the board of health may establish, not in conflict with any provision of this article, as it finds necessary, or in the public interest, in order to protect patients in institutions required to be licensed under this article from detrimental practices and conditions, or to ensure adequate provision for their accommodations and care. No rule or regulation or standard of the board shall be adopted or enforced which would have the effect of denying a license to a hospital or other institution required to be licensed hereunder, solely by reason of the school or system of practice employed or permitted to be employed by physicians therein: Provided, That such school or system of practice is recognized by the laws of this state

(b) A hospital shall post signage in every patient room, patient care area/department, and staff rest area information outlining the process for reporting patient safety concerns via the facility’s designated internal reporting mechanism and the process for reporting unresolved patient safety concerns or complaints to the West Virginia Office for Health Facility Licensure and Certification. The posting shall include the address and telephone number for the West Virginia Office for Health Facility Licensure and Certification. This does not preclude any patient, patient representative, or healthcare provider from making a good faith report pertaining to patient safety concerns, alleged wrongdoing or waste to other appropriate authorities as defined in §16-39-3 of this code.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require a hospital to post the contact information to the Office for Health Facility Licensure and Certification to notify individuals on how to file a complaint.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.