1938S.01P
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
Relating to the creation of the comprehensive patient education and health care cost improvement pilot project.
WHEREAS, in order to continue to provide improved services to patients in this state, improving patient information regarding elective surgical procedures and their risks and complications is needed; and
WHEREAS, the lack of information regarding surgery, surgical risks, and post surgical complications contributes to patient dissatisfaction, over-utilization of the health care system, malpractice claims, and the rising cost of healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Senior Services, in conjunction with the Department of Insurance and any teaching hospital under the control of public universities in the state shall evaluate the establishment of the "Comprehensive Patient Education and Healthcare Cost Improvement Pilot Program" which will develop and incorporate effective patient education programs into the preoperative consultation and informed consent process; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Patient Education and Healthcare Cost Improvement Pilot Program shall be subject to appropriations and implemented no later than six months after funding for the pilot program is made available if the department, in its judgment, concludes such program is beneficial to the health care system of Missouri, and shall have a duration of three years; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Patient Education and Healthcare Cost Improvement Pilot Program shall, prior to the patient consenting to elective surgery:
(1) Use an educational system that visually explains to the patient in simple terms the entire surgical procedure;
(2) Fully discloses to the patient in simple terms all known complications and their frequencies based on accepted medical literature;
(3) Allows the patient access to the education outside the surgeon's office;
(4) Fully documents the patient education process; and
(5) Collects outcome data after surgery; and
(6) Fully disclose to the patient the value of second opinions from financially disinterested parties;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Senior Services shall monitor the pilot program and report to the Director of the Department of Insurance and the General Assembly on the effectiveness of such program by the second week of the regular session of the General Assembly in the next session following completion of the Pilot Program; and
WHEREAS, the report shall include an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the patient education process, including but not limited to:
(1) The effect of the Pilot Program on the reduction of medical malpractice claims;
(2) Patient satisfaction concerning the education process;
(3) Doctors' feedback concerning the Pilot Program;
(4) Total number of surgical procedures performed;
(5) A comparison of Medicaid dollars spent on relevant surgical procedures versus the previous year and projected year; and
(6) Suggestions for improving the educational system or its implementation, if any:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Missouri Senate, Ninety-Second General Assembly, First Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby direct the Department of Health and Senior Services to create the "Comprehensive Patient Education and Healthcare Cost Improvement Pilot Program"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Missouri Senate be instructed to send this resolution to the Governor for his approval or rejection pursuant to the Missouri Constitution.