CS for SB 1596 - Provider Accountability

• Expands nursing home residents' rights to include protection from sexual abuse and exploitation in addition to existing protections from mental and physical abuse, neglect, and corporal punishment.

• Adds multiple criminal offenses as disqualifying factors for background screening of health care provider employees, including fraud offenses, identity theft, computer crimes, human trafficking, threats, and weapons of mass destruction violations.

• Creates a cause of action for ex parte injunctive relief against unlicensed health care activity, allowing the Agency for Health Care Administration to petition circuit courts for temporary (up to 30 days) and permanent injunctions without posting bond.

• Requires physician offices performing surgeries to be inspected by the Department of Health before initial registration and annually thereafter, with immediate suspension of registration if offices refuse inspection.

• Establishes specific standards of practice for gluteal fat grafting procedures, including maintaining a one-to-one physician-to-patient ratio, using ultrasound guidance for fat injection, and prohibiting intramuscular or submuscular fat placement.