Carruthers Introduces Patient Protection Bill

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) and Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today introduced House Bill 409, or the Patient Protection Bill. The legislation will require hospitals and long-term care facilities to establish patient or resident protection advisory boards.

“This bill is about improving patient care and safety,” said Carruthers. “Ohioans deserve to have an advocate who can stand by their side and ensure that they are receiving the best care possible.”

Under H.B. 409, a Patient Protection Advisory Board will be established to review and develop policies and procedures governing the restraint of patients, and review and provide recommendations regarding policies and procedures governing patient care and treatment. The board must include patients or family members of patients with lived experiences, advocates and medical professionals with experience providing health care services directly to patients. 

In addition the advisory board, H.B. 409 will achieve the following:

• In certain circumstances, peace officers will be required to complete trauma informed care training and any other patient safety-best practices training available.
• Hospitals and long-term care facilities will be required to establish updated policies for a tiered response (code) system that is based on the patient’s medical condition and age.
• All hospitals and long-term care facilities shall expand access to Ombudsman and/or patient grievance services to full time, weekends and holidays, in order to make, accept, and file grievances from the petitioner or petitioner’s family member when the incident occurs; as well as ensure that the grievance process is user friendly, and that patients and their families are aware of the process.

H.B. 409 now awaits additional hearings in the House Families, Aging and Human Services Committee.