Florida Senate - 2014                              CS for SB 380
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Health Policy; and Senators Bean and Brandes
       
       
       
       
       
       588-00973-14                                           2014380c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to obstetrical services at hospitals;
    3         repealing s. 383.336, F.S., relating to provider
    4         hospitals; amending s. 395.1051, F.S.; requiring a
    5         hospital to notify obstetrical physicians before the
    6         hospital closes its obstetrical department or ceases
    7         to provide obstetrical services; providing an
    8         effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 383.336, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   13         Section 2. Section 395.1051, Florida Statutes, is amended
   14  to read:
   15         395.1051 Duty to notify patients and obstetrical
   16  physicians.—
   17         (1) An appropriately trained person designated by each
   18  licensed facility shall inform each patient, or an individual
   19  identified pursuant to s. 765.401(1), in person about adverse
   20  incidents that result in serious harm to the patient.
   21  Notification of outcomes of care which that result in harm to
   22  the patient under this section does shall not constitute an
   23  acknowledgment or admission of liability and may not, nor can it
   24  be introduced as evidence.
   25         (2) A hospital shall notify each obstetrical physician who
   26  has privileges at the hospital at least 120 days before the
   27  hospital closes its obstetrical department or ceases to provide
   28  obstetrical services, unless the hospital can demonstrate it was
   29  impossible for the hospital to provide 120 days’ notice due to
   30  circumstances beyond the control of the hospital or the
   31  obstetrical physician. If a hospital is unable to provide 120
   32  days’ notice, the hospital must provide notice as soon as
   33  practicable.
   34         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.