House Bill 1105

Chair's Name: Sharon Cooper

Committee: Health & Human Services

House Sponsor: Donna Sheldon

HB 1105 requires that between October 1 and March 1 of each year, hospitals must offer flu and pneumonia vaccinations to patients 65 and older before discharging them, unless contraindicated. This requirement is contingent on the vaccine’s availability.

This bill comes to the Floor under the Open Rule and it is expected that a floor amendment will be offered to clarify liability issues.

Chairman Cooper’s Opinion of the legislation:

Senior citizens are one of the groups with the highest risk during flu season. This legislation compels the hospitals to at least offer the vaccination for both flu and pneumonia to inpatients of the hospital (when appropriate) during the peak flu season and hopefully reduce the number of the elderly with both of these illnesses.

Further Action

The Senate added a provision on lines 16-17 which states: “The vaccinations may be administered pursuant to a standing order that has been approved by the hospital’s medical staff.”