CCS/SB 988 - This act modifies several provisions relating to health care providers, including: (1) investment of funds by municipal hospitals; (2) background checks for ambulance district employees, contractors, and volunteers; (3) alternative stroke center designations and emergency department physician education requirements; (4) medical helipad fences; (5) certificates of need; and (6) the investment of funds by county hospitals. INVESTMENT OF FUNDS BY MUNICIPAL HOSPITALS (Section 96.192) This act allows the board of trustees of any authorized municipal hospital to invest up to 25% of the hospital's funds not required for immediate disbursement in any U.S. investment grade fixed income funds or diversified stock funds, or both. The provisions of this act shall only apply if the hospital: (1) receives less than 1% of its annual revenue from municipal, county, or state taxes and (2) receives less than 1% of its annual revenue from appropriated funds from the municipality in which such hospital is located. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 635 (2016) and SB 1039 (2016). BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AMBULANCE DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS (Section 190.060) This act also allows an ambulance district to conduct fingerprint background checks on current and prospective employees, contractors, and volunteers. This provision is identical to a provision in HB 2667 (2016). ALTERNATIVE STROKE CENTER DESIGNATIONS (Section 190.241) This act provides for an alternative stroke center designation for a hospital. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall designate a hospital, upon receipt of an application, as follows: (1) a level I stroke center if the hospital has been certified as a comprehensive stroke center by the Joint Commission or another certifying organization; (2) a level II stroke center if the hospital has been certified as primary stroke center by the Joint Commission or other certifying organization; or (3) a level III stroke center if the hospital has been certified as a acute stroke-ready hospital by the Joint Commission or other certifying organization. The Department shall not require compliance with any additional standards for establishing or renewing stroke designations and the designation shall continue as long as the hospital remains certified. The Department may remove a hospital's designation if the hospital so requests or if the Department determines the certification has been suspended or revoked. Any hospital receiving this alternative designation shall submit annual proof of certification and other contact information, as well as the certification survey results and other specified documents. Sole authority to establish education requirements for physicians who practice in an emergency department of a facility designated as a trauma, STEMI, or stroke center by the Department of Health and Senior Services is given to the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. Hospitals designated as STEMI or stroke centers shall submit data to the Department for use in the evaluation and improvement of hospital and emergency medical services' trauma, stroke, and STEMI care. The hospitals shall submit data to the Department as described in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 635 (2016) and SB 732 (2016) and substantially similar to SB 1060 (2016). MEDICAL HELIPAD FENCES (Section 190.265) Under this act, any rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and Senior Services, or any interpretation of such rules, shall not require hospitals to have a fence or other barriers around a hospital helipad. Additionally, the Department shall not promulgate any rules and regulations with respect to the operation or construction of a helipad located at a hospital. Finally, hospitals shall ensure that helipads are free of obstruction and safe for use by a helicopter while on the ground, during approach, and takeoff. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 635 (2016) and SB 732 (2016). CERTIFICATES OF NEED (Section 197.315) This act requires hospitals operated and licensed by the state, with the exception of Department of Mental Health-operated psychiatric hospitals, to obtain a certificate of need and to comply with statutes relating to certificates of need. However, no certificate of need shall be required for the purchase and operation of medical equipment used by an academic health center operated by the state in furtherance of research or instruction. This provision is identical to a provision in SB 608 (2016), SB 635 (2016), SB 973 (2016), and HCS/HB 2402 (2016). INVESTMENT OF FUNDS BY COUNTY HOSPITALS (Section 205.165) This act allows the board of trustees of any authorized county hospital to invest up to 15% of the hospital's funds not required for immediate disbursement in certain mutual funds. The provisions of this act shall only apply if the hospital: (1) located within a county of the first classification with more than 150,000 but fewer than 200,000 inhabitants, and (2) receives less than 1% of its annual revenues from county or state taxes. This provision is identical to HB 2139 (2016). This act contains an emergency clause for certain provisions. SARAH HASKINS