North Carolina HB 974: DHHS Study/Hospice Patient Complaints.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 974

Short Title: DHHS Study/Hospice Patient Complaints. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives G. Pierce, Cervania, White, and Wheatley (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H974-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO 2
CONDUCT A STUDY ON WAYS TO ENCOURAGE GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY 3
BY HOSPICE CARE FACILITIES FOR COMPLAINTS BY HOSPICE CARE PATIENTS 4
AND THEIR FAMILIES. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. The Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study 7
to examine ways to improve the responsiveness of hospice care facilities to complaints by hospice 8
care patients and their families. In conducting this study, the Department shall analyze complaint 9
data collected from hospice care facilities, hospice care patients, and families of hospice care 10
patients. In addition, the Department shall engage stakeholders, including hospice care 11
administrators and representatives of North Carolina associations supporting hospice care 12
facilities such as the Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina. The Department 13
shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative or administrative 14
proposals, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services and the 15
Fiscal Research Division by April 1, 2026. The report shall include, at a minimum, a summary 16
of the most common complaints by hospice care patients and their families and recommendations 17
on best practices for hospice care facilities to implement clear and accessible patient complaint 18
procedures, ensure timely and thorough investigations of patient complaints, foster open and 19
effective communication with hospice care patients and their families regarding patient 20
complaints, and empower families as active members of the care team. 21
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. 22