Bill Sponsored by Rusty Black, State Senate Candidate, Becomes Law

On Thursday, Governor Parson signed HB 2116, the No Patient Left Alone Act, into law. Led by bill sponsor Rep. Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe), Rep. Mitch Boggs (R-LaRussell), Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly), and Rep. Brian Seitz (R-Branson), the patients’ rights bill is an important advocacy measure for families with loved ones in medical care. Rep. Black is seeking the Missouri State Senate District 12 seat being vacated by State Senator Dan Hegeman

“Strengthening these patient protections for all Missourians is not only common sense, but it will help our most vulnerable citizens during critical moments of their lives,” House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher said. “I am thankful to Governor Parson for signing this important measure into law because there is no greater advocate for a patient than members of their own family.”

Plocher helped champion the issue during the 2022 legislative session after a deeply personal experience with a family member’s hospital stay. HB 2116 protects the rights of both patients in medical care and families providing comfort to their loved ones.

Under the bill, upon patient request, a hospital, office of a health care facility, or hospice facility licensed in Missouri, allows patients to designate at least three essential support persons, in addition to a spouse or legal guardian, and allows a spouse or guardian and at least one support person to stay with the patient at all times during their stay. The bill does not affect a medical professional’s ability to provide care for patients.

“This is a victory for patient advocates who no longer have to jump through administrative hoops to stand beside and comfort their family members during a hospital stay,” Leader Plocher said. “Access to family or loved ones during medical care is not a privilege, it is a right, and I thank the bill sponsors for their leadership, my colleagues in the House, and to Governor Parson for signing it into law today.”

The full bill summary and bill text for HB 2116 may be found here. HB 2116, HB 2097, HB 1690, and HB 2221 were included in HB 2116. The law will take effect on August 28, 2022.