Hawaii House Bill HB2275

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/24
• Refer: 1/26/24

Caption

Relating To Home Health Agencies.

Impact

By mandating the creation of a complaint registry, HB2275 aims to bolster consumer confidence in home health services. It is anticipated that the presence of a publicly accessible record of complaints will serve as a deterrent to subpar practices. This registry could provide valuable information for prospective patients and their families when selecting home health providers, potentially influencing their decisions based on past performance and feedback.

Summary

House Bill 2275 (HB2275) proposes to establish a complaint registry specifically for home health agencies in the State of Hawaii. This legislation seeks to enhance transparency and accountability within the home health sector by requiring the Department of Health to maintain a publicly accessible record of all complaints filed against licensed home health agencies. The bill emphasizes the importance of protecting patient rights and ensuring that patients or their families have recourse if they experience substandard care or issues with service delivery.

Conclusion

Overall, HB2275 represents a significant move towards enhancing oversight within the home health sector in Hawaii. By aiming to provide a structured system for documenting complaints, the bill underscores the legislative intent to prioritize patient safety and improve the quality of care provided to homebound individuals in the state.

Contention

While the bill is generally seen as a positive step toward improving home health agency accountability, there may be concerns regarding how the registry is managed and the implications for agencies that receive complaints. Opponents may argue that a public registry could lead to unfair stigma against home health agencies based on isolated incidents, potentially harming their reputation without accounting for the context or resolution of the complaints. Furthermore, there might be discussions about the resources needed to maintain such a registry and whether it could be a burden on the Department of Health.