MS HB1076

Amends Mississippi Code sections 41-61-59 and 41-61-61 to require prompt reporting of deaths of patients in nursing facilities or under hospice care to the medical examiner by any person with knowledge of the death.

Expands the list of reportable deaths to include nursing home and hospice patient deaths in addition to deaths affecting public interest (violent deaths, unexplained deaths, deaths without physician attendance, etc.).

Maintains existing reporting requirements that any physician in attendance, hospital employee, law enforcement officer, funeral home employee, emergency medical technician, relative, or other present person must notify the medical examiner.

Preserves exceptions allowing body movement only when authorized by the medical examiner, unless unavailable and law enforcement determines body presence creates safety hazard or integrity risk.

Takes effect July 1, 2014.