COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

OVERSIGHT DIVISION



FISCAL NOTE



L.R. No.: 1516-01

Bill No.: SB 424

Subject: Health Care; Hospitals; Medical Procedures and Personnel; Nurses

Type: Original

Date: April 1, 2003




FISCAL SUMMARY



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on

General Revenue

Fund

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on Other

State Funds

$0 $0 $0



Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.

This fiscal note contains 4 pages.











ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Total Estimated

Net Effect on All

Federal Funds

$0 $0 $0



ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006
Local Government (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000)




FISCAL ANALYSIS



ASSUMPTION



Officials from the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Economic Development - Division of Professional Registration assume this proposal would not fiscally impact their agencies.



Officials from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DOH) state this proposal enacts nurse staffing requirements and procedures for maintaining staffing requirements during non-emergency and emergency situations for all hospitals. DOH states the costs to hospitals is indeterminate because of the varying sizes of hospitals, the varying services offered, and the staffing mix of licensed staff versus non-licensed staff.



DOH states this proposal would not create a fiscal impact for DOH. Staffing needs based on

the patient's needs are presently assessed as part of the regular survey process.



Oversight requested various hospitals in Missouri to respond to this fiscal note request. None of the hospitals responded. However, in a similar proposal from the previous session, various hospitals indicated that there would be unknown costs in developing and maintaining an acuity



ASSUMPTION (continued)



system. Oversight assumes the costs to county hospitals is unknown but greater than $100,000.

FISCAL IMPACT - State Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
$0 $0 $0



FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government FY 2004

(10 Mo.)

FY 2005 FY 2006
COUNTY HOSPITALS
Costs - County Hospitals
Development and maintenance cost of an acuity system (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000)
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON COUNTY HOSPITALS (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000) (Unknown exceeding $100,000)



FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business



No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.



DESCRIPTION



This proposal establishes nurse staffing plans for licensed hospitals. Hospitals must attempt to fill staffing needs based on the acuity system in order to address staff shortages before requiring a registered nurse or unlicensed personnel to work overtime. Hospitals must not mandate a nurse to work beyond the scheduled shift unless there is a declared national or state emergency.



This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.











SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Department of Mental Health

Department of Economic Development -

Division of Professional Registration

Department of Social Services

Department of Health and Senior Services









Mickey Wilson, CPA

Director

April 1, 2003