SPONSOR: Cook
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing by a vote of 21 to 0.
This bill specifies that ambulance operators and other emergency service personnel pursuant to Sections 190.001 to 190.245, RSMo, are considered health care professionals for purposes of participating in and being subject to peer review committees under Section 537.035. Any quality improvement or quality assurance activity required by anyone licensed as an ambulance operator or other emergency service personnel is considered an activity of a peer review committee.
This bill is similar to HB 830 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that doctors and surgeons already have this process and we should be expanding it to include our EMS first responders. The peer review process helps to plan for future events in an effort to provide the best care. This does not hide the medical record or prevent an individual from being deposed.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Cook; Mehlville Fire Protection District; Missouri Ambulance Association; Missouri State Medical Association, Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons; Jeffrey Coughenour; Mark Alexander, Cox Health EMS; Matt Bowen, Missouri Ambulance Association; Ambulance District Association of Missouri; Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence DBA Missouri Public Health Institute; and Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that peer review has been used to hide documents and witnesses. Compassion for first responders and healthcare professionals must be matched with equal care for patients and families who depend on honest review, lawful oversight, and access to the truth.
Testifying in person against the bill was Craig M. Ortwerth, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: