By Associated Press
Jefferson City, MO – Governor Bob Holden has signed into a law a bill intended to make Missouri nursing homes safer. The law relaxes inspection requirements for good nursing homes, but strengthens state authority to penalize those providing poor care. Penalties can include fines and license revocation. At a press conference in Jefferson City today, Governor Holden said, Under its provisions, we'll be able to keep bad actors in the nursing home industry in other states from coming to Missouri. We now have the authority to require these operators to have a clean history.
The law also will raise fines for violations of state codes, requires that deaths be reported to local coroners and strengthens provisions for the state to conduct inspections. It goes into effect August 28th.